EUD strongly condemns the lack of accessibility at the European Social Forum 2025, where Deaf participants faced significant barriers due to the absence of on-site International Sign (IS) interpreters. Despite repeated calls for full linguistic inclusion, the event failed to provide adequate provisions, excluding Deaf people from meaningful participation in key discussions.
As an organisation dedicated to advocating for the rights of Deaf people across Europe, EUD stresses that access to sign language interpretation is a fundamental right, not an optional service. The failure to ensure on-site IS interpretation at major European forums contradicts the principles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) and the EU’s own commitments to accessibility and inclusion.
EUD urges event organisers and European institutions to prioritise accessibility by ensuring the presence of qualified IS interpreters at all high-level events. Without this, Deaf people remain sidelined in crucial conversations about social justice, policy-making, and human rights.
Read more about EUD’s position and demands here:
