Petition No 1056/2016 Mark Wheatley (British), on behalf of European Union of the Deaf, requesting the European Parliament allow for the tabling of petitions in national sign languages used in the EU

1056/2016

Summary title: Petition No 1056/2016 Mark Wheatley (British), on behalf of European Union of the Deaf, requesting the European Parliament allow for the tabling of petitions in national sign languages used in the EU

Petition number: 1056/2016

Topics: Disability Issues

Country: European Union

Name of association: European Union of the Deaf

Name: Mark Wheatley

The petitioner states that currently petitions can be tabled in all EU official languages. In the petitioner’s view, deaf sign language users should also be given the possibility of tabling petitions in sign languages. The petitioner highlights that EU citizens have the right to use their preferred language to communicate with EU institutions and it should follow that deaf sign language users should also have the right to communicate in their own sign language, on an equal basis with other petitioners. The petitioner suggests modifying the European Parliament’s Rules of Procedure to allow for the submission of petitions in all national sign languages used in the EU. In case a change of the Rules of Procedure along these lines is not possible in the near future, the petitioner asks the European Parliament to create a temporary provision, allowing for such a change in procedure. The petitioner makes reference to the provisions of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD) and the Charter of Fundamental Rights and concludes that the EU institutions do not only have the capacity, but also the obligation to be front-runners with regards to accessibility in Europe.