December 5 – Day of the Sign Language Interpreter of the Republic of Belarus

According to the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Republic of Belarus, 10.5 thousand hearing-impaired citizens live in the country.

In close cooperation with state administration bodies, the Public Association "Belarusian Association of the Deaf" (PA "BAoD") implements its statutory objectives to protect the rights, freedoms, and legitimate interests of people with hearing impairments, promotes the creation of adequate conditions for their full and equal participation in society, and fosters the development of legal, organizational, and institutional conditions to ensure equal rights for people with disabilities and their integration.

Work is underway to implement the provisions of Law of the Republic of Belarus No. 183-Z "On the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and Their Social Integration," which established measures to support sign language and guarantees the provision of sign language interpretation services to fully meet the needs of individuals with disabilities requiring interpretation. The systematic training of sign language interpreters at the secondary vocational and higher education levels has commenced, training courses are being conducted, and the PA "BAoD" Register of Sign Language Interpreters of the Republic of Belarus has been established.

Interpretation services are provided by sign language interpreters from educational institutions, state social service institutions, industrial enterprises, electronic mass media, and organizations of the PA "BAoD" (unitary enterprises, cultural institutions, regional and Minsk city organizations).

With the aim of drawing public attention to the complexity, specificity, and labor-intensiveness of qualified sign language interpreter work, recognizing and elevating the status of this profession, and attracting and retaining personnel, the presidium of the Central Board of the Public Association "Belarusian Association of the Deaf" adopted a resolution on June 26, 2025, "On establishing December 5 as the professional holiday – Sign Language Interpreter Day of the Republic of Belarus."

This day is an excellent occasion to express gratitude to individuals whose dedicated work is vitally important for the growth and development of people with hearing impairments, and to emphasize their contribution to the development of the deaf community.

To popularize this day and jointly honor the representatives of this profession who have made a significant contribution to the development of Belarusian Sign Language, the provision of high-level professional translation services, and the training of young sign language interpreter specialists, within the framework of events dedicated to the establishment of the professional holiday "Day of the Sign Language Interpreter of the Republic of Belarus", the following will take place: 

in Vitebsk

On December 5, 2025, from 13:00 to 15:00, an event dedicated to the Day of the Sign Language Interpreter of the Republic of Belarus will be held at the club of the unitary enterprise "Galant" of the NGO "BelOG" (Vitebsk, Zhestkova St., 24). Contacts of responsible persons: Chairperson of the Board of the Vitebsk Regional Organization of the NGO "BelOG" Lidiya Ivanovna Sokolovskaya (29)5998469, Head of the Club Tatyana Valentinovna Kosacheva (29)8975120;

in Orsha, Vitebsk Region

On December 5, 2025, at 10:45, a ceremonial meeting will be held in the assembly hall of the unitary enterprise "Nit'" of the NGO "BelOG" (Orsha, Korotkevich St., 5). Contacts of responsible persons: First Deputy Director - Chief Engineer Gennady Leonidovich Lobanov (0216)500229, Legal Advisor Lyudmila Vladimirovna Butor (0216)500771;