23/03/2026
Kigali Hosts AFSLI Conference to Advance Sign Language Inclusion Across Africa
Today, Mukobwa Justine, Executive Secretary of the National Council of Persons with Disabilities (NCPD Rwanda), officially launched the African Federation of Sign Language Interpreters (AFSLI) Conference in Kigali. The conference has brought together participants from more than 30 countries, marking a significant milestone in advancing accessibility, inclusion, and the recognition of sign language across Africa. In her remarks, Mukobwa Justine emphasized that the conference aims to strengthen collaboration among professionals and stakeholders, while creating a platform to share knowledge and expertise in sign language interpretation. She highlighted the importance of developing and implementing national policies that support and promote sign language, ensuring its recognition as an official means of communication.The Executive Secretary further noted that Rwanda has already made important progress in this area. In 2023, the country approved its National Sign Language Dictionary, a key step toward standardizing and promoting the use of sign language. However, she stressed that more efforts are still needed to formally recognize sign language, integrate it into the education system, and expand its use in public service delivery.The AFSLI Conference reflects a growing commitment across the continent and beyond to uphold the rights of persons with disabilities, particularly those who are deaf or hard of hearing, by ensuring inclusive communication and equal access to information and services.