Newsroom
OSCE Mission sponsors sign language news on Kosovo public television
PRISTINA 31 January 2005
PRISTINA, 31 January 2005 - Kosovo's public broadcaster, Radio Television Kosovo (RTK), today begins broadcasting news with sign language for deaf and hearing-impaired people in the region. The programme, financially supported by the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, aims to allow an often neglected group to participate more fully in public life.
"Through sign language translation for news broadcasts and other TV programmes, deaf and hearing impaired persons will be able to follow the news as well as current events in Kosovo," said Ambassador Pascal Fieschi, Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo. "This service will help them feel a part of society, while also raising awareness about what life is like for this group."
The service will start with two daily five-minute news clips, taken from the Albanian service of Radio Kosova and the Serbian service of Radio Blue Sky - both part of the RTK family. Other programme features are envisaged.
According to the latest estimates, the number of deaf and hearing-impaired persons in Kosovo ranges between 15,000 and 20,000, half of tem being children and young people of school age.
News in this format will also foster the standardization process of the sign language currently used in Kosovo. Sign language is universal and understood by all ethnic communities, helping them further integrate into society.
"As Kosovo's public broadcaster, RTK has a particular task in reaching out to all groups in society. This new service is a welcome step in the right direction," added Ambassador Fieschi.
The sign language interpreters and RTK staff have been trained for the special programming requirements by an expert from the public broadcaster Macedonian Radio Television.
The project is the first of its kind and will be sponsored by the OSCE Mission until the end of 2005, after which RTK will have a self-supported sign language editorial desk.
"Through sign language translation for news broadcasts and other TV programmes, deaf and hearing impaired persons will be able to follow the news as well as current events in Kosovo," said Ambassador Pascal Fieschi, Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo. "This service will help them feel a part of society, while also raising awareness about what life is like for this group."
The service will start with two daily five-minute news clips, taken from the Albanian service of Radio Kosova and the Serbian service of Radio Blue Sky - both part of the RTK family. Other programme features are envisaged.
According to the latest estimates, the number of deaf and hearing-impaired persons in Kosovo ranges between 15,000 and 20,000, half of tem being children and young people of school age.
News in this format will also foster the standardization process of the sign language currently used in Kosovo. Sign language is universal and understood by all ethnic communities, helping them further integrate into society.
"As Kosovo's public broadcaster, RTK has a particular task in reaching out to all groups in society. This new service is a welcome step in the right direction," added Ambassador Fieschi.
The sign language interpreters and RTK staff have been trained for the special programming requirements by an expert from the public broadcaster Macedonian Radio Television.
The project is the first of its kind and will be sponsored by the OSCE Mission until the end of 2005, after which RTK will have a self-supported sign language editorial desk.