Today, there are more than 7 billion people on the planet and more than one billion people- or approximately 15 per cent of the world’s population- live with some form of disability. The United Nations General Assembly established the International Day of Disabled Persons as an annual event in 1992, in its resolution 47/3. The purpose of the day is to promote the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities across the board, and to raise awareness of their situation in political, social, economic and cultural terms.
For Europe, the day is significant in relation to the European Commission’s European disability strategy, the aim of which is to promote a barrier-free Europe and to empower people with disabilities.
Against that backdrop, exactly one year ago we launched a pilot project on the Speech Repository, adding International Sign Language to the repertoire. Today you can find over 70 ISL speeches on our platform and we regularly add new content (e.g. the read-outs of the College of Commissioners)
Have fun practising!
Your Speech Repository Team