GDRFA Building lights up in Blue to celebrate International Day of Sign Languages
The General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) Dubai celebrated the International Day of Sign Languages as part of its community participation and commitment to supporting the national efforts to empower people of determination and promote their role at all levels.
The International Day of Sign Languages is observed on September 23 every year and coincides with the International Week of Deaf People which runs from 23-30 September. It aims to encourage the use of sign language, support and protect the linguistic identity and cultural diversity of all sign language users.
The celebration aligns with the efforts of the UAE’s wise leadership to provide people of determination with a nurturing environment by encouraging all government agencies to offer them inclusive job opportunities, integrate them fully into society and enable them to play an active role in promoting the sustainable development in the country. The General Directorate is home to 30 employees who are people of determination holding top-level roles across its departments and branches, and having academic degrees, some of them have high college degrees.
As part of the celebration, the General Directorate’s Headquarters was lit up blue in response to the call of The World Federation of the Deaf for lighting up all public places, landmarks and government buildings blue on September 23 to show international commitment to support national sign languages and solidarity with communities of deaf people across the world.
His Excellency Major General Mohamed Ahmed Al Marri, Director General of General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) in Dubai said that with the strategic vision of the federal government and the directives of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the UAE achieved a quantum leap in providing people of determination with a fulfilling and high quality of life. He noted that the participation of GDRFA in the celebration of the International Day of Sign Languages aligns with its strategy to empower the people of determination and support them to play an active role in the sustainable development.
HE added that the wise leadership in the UAE has issued several laws and legislations and launched initiatives to preserve the rights of people of determination and provide them with quality services. He also noted that the General Directorate in Dubai plays a key role in supporting and empowering them with an inclusive work environment while offering them world-class services and facilities.
The General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai, in cooperation with the Ministry of Community Development and the Zayed Higher Organization for People of Determination, has launched in 2020 a training program titled ‘The Emirati Sign Language Dictionary’ on its smart platform ‘Enrichment of Continuous Learning.’ With this initiative, the General Directorate has become the first government entity in the UAE to implement an interactive training program for its employees.