Glossary of International Protection Terms for Human Rights in Sign Language

The "Glossary of International Protection Terms for Human Rights in Sign Language" is a specialized resource aimed at enhancing access to protection and human rights concepts for people with hearing disabilities in Yemen. The guide provides 65 key legal and rights-related terms in Yemeni Sign Language, many of which were previously unavailable in the national sign language dictionary. It was developed with the active participation of sign language experts, interpreters, and members of the deaf community from the governorates of Aden, Lahij, and Abyan.

The initiative was carried out under the supervision of Iman Omar Hashem, a certified sign language interpreter with over 25 years of experience. The process involved translating the meaning of each term, developing its sign, performing and filming the signs with deaf participants, and printing the final version of the guide. The printed guide has been distributed to professionals working with the deaf community across the three governorates, marking a pioneering step toward inclusive human rights engagement.

This guide was developed as part of the project “Strengthening the Resilience of Women Human Rights Defenders in Yemen,” led by the Peace Track Initiative, in partnership with Elbarlamaent (Germany), TOBE Foundation for Rights and Liberties, and with funding from the European Union (EU).