World Federation of the Deaf Thank you. Good afternoon everyone. I represent the World Federation of the Deaf. This is the very first time we participated in this forum and we have observed the discussion in relation to different religious, ethnic and linguistic groups. And we would like to say very clearly that in each of these particular groups, religious, ethnic, cultural, linguistic, in each of these groups there are deaf people. And in each of those groups there is a minority language, sign language. So please, work with us in the World Federation of the Deaf and your National Deaf Association to promote the linguistic rights of deaf people within your minority groups. And with the World Federation of the Deaf, we have the World Federation of the Deaf Youth Section President who wants to make a quick comment about young people. Thank you, Chairman. Now across the world only 2% of young deaf people get access to sign language. So already there's a breach of their human rights where they are not able to grow up in a world where sign language is promoted. Only 2% of young deaf people are brought up with a bilingual education, so we ask you to look at what action can be taken to ensure young deaf people do have access to a bilingual education. Use us, use our expertise. There's WFD, WFD Youth Section.We want to work with you to increase the rights of deaf people, making sure that there's equality for all, for both spoken and sign languages. Thank you.

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