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Position in other countries

New Zealand, a country that is similar in population to Scotland, had its first New Zealand Sign Language Bill reading in the Parliament on 22^nd June 2004. The New Zealand Sign Language Act (the Act) became law in April 2006. The Act is an important step forward as it recognises the language and culture of the Deaf community.

The Act gives Deaf people a right to use New Zealand Sign Language in legal proceedings. It also sets out principles to guide government departments in consulting the Deaf community on matters relating to New Zealand Sign Language and its use by government agencies. The Ministry of Education has developed New Zealand Sign Language in the New Zealand Curriculum which creates an opportunity for all students to learn the other official language of New Zealand. The Ministry is also developing The Learning Languages Series, which provides teachers with a multimedia resource specific to each language taught in schools – this emphasises the importance of learning both the language and the culture of those who use it. Each school in New Zealand decides which additional languages will be taught as well as English, with many schools choosing to teach NZSL as well as English and Maori.

The New Zealand Act also recognises the fact the there is a need to train more English/Maori/NZSL interpreters.

A number of other European states have recognised their national sign languages on a constitutional level, including Austria, the Czech Republic, Finland, Portugal, the Slovak Republic, and Spain.