Since 2009, there has been remarkable progress in the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) in Malawi. The Government has continued to formulate and enforce legislation, strategies, policies and programs that promote equality, inclusion and the empowerment of persons with disabilities. Therefore, the Malawi Sign Language Dictionary is being published at the right time, as it is complying to the National Disability Mainstreaming Strategy and Implementation Plan (2018-2023). The strategy provides a frame-work for promoting public sector-led equity and inclusive development through the implementation of the national and sectorial policies that take the human rights and development needs of persons with disabilities into account. The deaf community, along with the general public, will now be using sign language to address the communication needs of deaf people in order to ensure inclusivity, including, in development programs.
Language and communication are vital in everyday life. These two elements are crucial in allowing humanity to develop their social and emotional well-being, as well as to negotiate and learn. It is not plausible to let deafness to hinder the communication of deaf people. Sign language is a brilliant tool that help to bridge the communication gap created by deafness. The Government of Malawi encourages every citizen to learn sign language, since communication is an integral part of society, and that makes learning sign language invaluable for communication.
Absence and limited use of sign language have the effect of driving deaf people into the periphery of the development agenda, due to lack proper education, limited access to information in sign language, poor and inadequate sign language interpreting services, and poor employment opportunities. This is because the hearing community sees deafness as being a deficiency, which requires intervention.
This Malawi Sign Language dictionary has been developed by deaf people in collaboration with, both, the local and international experts, to address the negative perceptions of deaf people. Therefore, the communication gap created by deafness can be reduced if the deaf are well-supported by every Malawian and given a conducive environment of operation. I would, therefore, like to commend the deaf community for this achievement.
The Government, in collaboration with the local and international development partners and organizations, shall endeavor to provide the necessary resources to enable the maximum utilization of the Malawian Sign Language dictionary that can benefit both the deaf and the hearing community. However, with the wealth of this dictionary, the challenge, is for deaf people to redefine their role from being passive recipients of charitable services to being proactive participants in all spheres of development. So that, we can transform Malawi together for the enjoyment of every citizen.
Let me also commend the Government of Finland through the Finnish Association of the Deaf for the technical and financial support in the publication of this First Edition of the Malawian Sign Language Dictionary.
Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera
President of the Republic of Malawi