XVII World Congress of the World Federation of the Deaf Ýstanbul 2015

Invitation

To our national, regional and international friends, the worldwide Deaf Community,

At the last General Assembly of the World Federation of the Deaf, country members voted that the Turkish Federation National of the Deaf have the privilege to host the XVII World Congress of the World Federation of the Deaf in Istanbul, Turkey. The official dates for the World Congress are 28^th July to 1^st August, 2015.

In my first term as President of the WFD, it is a great honour for me and the WFD Board to welcome all WFD members and friends to join the World Congress in Turkey. I have visited Turkey myself and know that it is an exceptional place. Turkey in July 2015 will be exciting because of the Congress, but it is also a wonderful country to visit, so there are two excellent reasons to join us at the World Congress. This is the first time WFD has had an international congress organised at the gateway of Europe and Asia and we are very proud to have Turkey welcoming the global deaf community to their region.

While I am writing this, our teams are working hard to get Istanbul ready to host thousands of people from all over the world. The congress is not only oriented to attract deaf people, but also to welcome everyone especially parents and families of deaf people, interpreters, different professionals who work with deaf people and government officials.

As you will remember, 133 country members at our WFD General Assembly in South Africa adopted the new vision for the WFD for 2011 – 2015: Deaf people have full human rights in an equal world where they and their sign languages are recognised and included as part of human diversity.

The WFD Board is honoured to approve the theme for the World Congress: Strengthening Human Diversity. This is a twofold call. First, to recognise deaf people as a part of human diversity. And second, to recognise and strengthen diversity in every deaf community globally, including children, youth, senior citizens, women, LGTB people, deaf people with disabilities, deafblind people and CODAs, whether in developed or developing countries, and to continue working together in the areas of sign language, deaf studies, education, employment, accessibility, technology, health and bioethics.

Of course this is a call to continue our important work to achieve equality for deaf people based on the international treaty, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

I would like to take this opportunity to encourage you all to start making your travel plans for 2015 so that we can all come together to create an unforgettable experience – and naturally also so that you can visit Turkey, one of the most beautiful countries in the world!

See you there!

Colin Allen
President
World Federation of the Deaf
31 January 2013

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TURKISH NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE DEAF

Address:
Web:
Phone:
Fax:
E-mail:

Haseki Caddesi Açýkgöz Sokak No:31/3 Aksaray/Fatih Ýstanbul 34096 – TURKEY
www.tiemf.org.tr
+90 212 588 72 23
+90 212 588 72 41
[email protected]

CONGRESS ORGANIZER

EVENT MANAGEMENT & CONSULTANCY

Address:
Web:

Mustafa Kemal Mah. 2132. Sokak No:2 Çankaya / Ankara – TURKEY
www.zed.com.tr

For Congress Related Enquiries:

Phone:
Fax:
E-mail:

+90 312 219 57 00/393
+90 312 219 57 01
[email protected]

For Sponsorship Related Enquiries:

Phone:
Fax:
E-mail:

+90 212 352 60 60
+90 212 352 60 30
[email protected], [email protected]