Participants of sign language courses with a legal bias have received their certificates.

Sixteen trainees, who already owned the basics of the sign language, took part in the course. Four-week course allowed sign language interpreters to improve their skills and provide an opportunity to be engaged in the investigative bodies and in court proceedings in future.

Courses were held for 4 weeks, starting from April 4 to April 28 that included 80 academic hours.

The main objective of this course was to prepare sign language interpreters to assist ear-impaired persons independently handle legal transactions, obtaining legal advice and participate in pre-trial activities and court proceedings. “We came from different parts of Osh and Jalal-Abad oblasts. For us, this is a unique opportunity to improve our capacity and acquire basic legal knowledge. I am very pleased that thanks to these courses, now I’m a certified sign language interpreter, and can contribute to our society,” shared Elena Romaneeva (one of the participants) her thoughts.

The training program was divided into two parts: theoretical part on the basics of law and practical part.

“This advanced training course is not only improvement of the skills of sing language interpreters, but also teaches the basics of the rights of people with special needs. We hope that the theoretical course on human rights, included in the program, will be the driving force for the defense of the rights of people with special needs, who are often neglected in our society,” – explained  Akpar Mendebairov, the legal trainer of the course.

Such courses for sign language interpreters haven’t been carried out annually in the Kyrgyz Republic. The last time the program was held in 2005 at the initiative of the Society of the Deaf and the Blind.

According to the trainers, information on sign language interpreter can be found on the website of the Ministry of Justice of the Kyrgyz Republic. 24 qualified sign language interpreters are available in Chui oblast and 13 specialists can be now involved in Osh and Jalal-Abad oblasts.

Today the legislation of the Kyrgyz Republic does not provide free sign language services to people with special needs. One hour of sign language interpretation services averages from 200-300 KGS, making this service inaccessible for the most part of people with special needs.

The courses were organized in cooperation with the Public Foundation “Equal Opportunities” in the framework of UNDP “Access for Justice” project funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland.

Mavliuda Khodzhaeva, UNDP PR/Communications Specialist, Osh Area Based Developemnt Programme.

May 30, 2016

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