A/RES/72/161
United Nations
General Assembly
Distr.: General
25 January 2018
Seventy-second session
Agenda item 72
Resolution adopted by the General Assembly
on 19 December 2017
[on the report of the Third Committee (A/72/439)]
72/161.
International Day of Sign Languages
The General Assembly,
Recognizing that multilingualism, as a core value of the Organization,
contributes to the achievement of the goals of the United Nations, as set out in Article 1
of the Charter of the United Nations,
Recognizing also that the United Nations pursues multilingualism as a means of
promoting, protecting and preserving diversity of languages and cultures globally, as
well as of improving the efficiency, performance and transparency of the
Organization,
Reaffirming its resolutions 53/199 of 15 December 1998 and 61/185 of
20 December 2006 on the proclamation of international years and Economic and
Social Council resolution 1980/67 of 25 July 1980 on international years and
anniversaries, particularly paragraphs 1 to 10 of the annex thereto on the agreed
criteria for the proclamation of international years, and paragraphs 13 and 14, in
which it is stated that an international day or year should not be proclaimed before
the basic arrangements for its organization and financing have been made,
Recalling the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, 1
Recalling also the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, 2 in
which it is reflected that sign languages are equal to spoken languages, and that States
parties to the Convention undertake to recognize, accept and promote the use of sign
languages,
Recalling further its resolutions 2 (I) of 1 February 1946, 2480 B (XXIII) of
21 December 1968, 42/207 C of 11 December 1987, 47/135 of 18 December 1992
and 50/11 of 2 November 1995 and other subsequent resolutions relating to
multilingualism, including resolutions 67/292 of 24 July 2013, 68/307 of
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17-22970 (E)
See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex.
United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2515, No. 44910.
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*1722970*