DEEP VIEW
Truth and Reconciliation Process of the Deaf and Sign Language Community in Finland
Hisayo Katsui University of Helsinki
Background of the truth and reconciliation process
In June 2025, the Finnish government initiated a truth and reconciliation process with the deaf and sign language community and the Finnish Sign Language community. This type of process typically involves official apologies for past injustices committed by powerful institutions, such as the state, the church, or influential social and economic actors. One of the most well-known examples is the Truth and Reconciliation process addressing Apartheid in South Africa.
This initiative is the first of its kind globally, in which a government officially acknowledges and addresses historical injustices experienced by a disability community. This article explores this groundbreaking effort by first outlining the preparation phase of the process, followed by a review of the identified historical injustices, and concludes with reflections on possible future directions.
It is widely recognized that the disability community has faced— and continues to face— injustices both in Finland and around the world. For decades, disability communities locally and globally have responded by empowering their members, raising public awareness, and advocating for change among decision-makers. However, progress has been slow, and this lack of meaningful societal transformation has led many within the disability community to rethink their strategies for social change.
This truth and reconciliation process represents one such response— an effort by the deaf and sign language community in Finland to address these long-standing issues and seek a path toward justice and inclusion.
Two earlier truth and reconciliation processes in Finland helped pave the way for this development. One involved individuals who had been placed in foster care as children
14
Observing Memories ISSUE 9