Kurdistan24 Steps Up Sign-Language Coverage to Serve Deaf Community
The broadcaster has added sign-language interpretation to its 6 p.m. news bulletin, drawing praise from Erbil’s Social Monitoring and Development Directorate.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) - Kurdistan24 has expanded sign-language interpretation in its daily broadcasts, introducing the service to its 6 p.m. news bulletin as part of a broader effort to make its media content accessible to all segments of society.
The broadcaster announced the decision on Wednesday, coinciding with World Sign Language Day, describing the move as part of its social and national responsibility and its commitment to giving greater attention to the deaf community.
Starting September 23, Kurdistan24 added sign-language interpretation to its 6 p.m. news broadcast, making it the first Kurdish media outlet to introduce the service as part of its daily news programming, according to the broadcaster.
Kurdistan24 said the move comes amid a series of changes to its working model aimed at giving greater attention to all components of society, ensuring their voices and perspectives are represented while also delivering the latest information and developments to viewers, listeners and readers.
The broadcaster said the changes form part of a new phase for Kurdistan24, while the occasion of World Sign Language Day brought the expansion of sign-language services forward.
More than 10,000 deaf people live in the Kurdistan Region, according to the information provided by Kurdistan24. The broadcaster noted that there is no media outlet specifically serving the community by providing daily news and developments from around the world in an accessible format.
Kurdistan24 said it therefore considers expanding sign-language interpretation within its broadcasts part of its professional and national responsibility, adding that it will place greater attention on the concerns and daily lives of deaf people across Kurdistan.
On Thursday, September 24, 2026, Erbil’s General Directorate of Social Monitoring and Development thanked Kurdistan24 for adding sign-language interpretation to its news and program broadcasts.
The directorate described the move as an important step toward strengthening the principles of justice and equality in access to information and media content, while respecting the rights of the deaf community.
It also said such initiatives play an important role in creating inclusive and accessible media for all members of society and expressed hope that Kurdistan24’s step would serve as an example for other media institutions.
In its message, the directorate emphasized that Kurdistan24’s initiative had brought happiness to both the directorate and members of the deaf community.
Kurdistan24’s expansion of sign-language interpretation marks a new step in its effort to broaden access to its daily news and media content, placing the needs and daily lives of the deaf community more prominently within its coverage.