Organisation: Corporación Ciudadanía Real de Sordos de Chile (CRESOR)
In 2001, Pamela Molina, representing CRESOR, along with another deaf woman, filed a joint lawsuit against Chilean television channels. The lawsuit called for the incorporation of simultaneous Chilean Sign Language (CSL) interpretation in their daily newscasts. The lawsuit was won initially, but lost on appeal because of procedural errors.
Despite this initial legal defeat, the cases prompted a broad, public debate. The social mobilisation and support of the Chilean deaf community proved a pivotal element in an agreement reached later with TV companies who, after a lengthy process, agreed to incorporate simultaneous interpretation in at least one television newscast per day. Such an agreement is still in effect today.
This public debate also produced a series of multisectoral reactions. The Chilean government took up the matter and agreed to work on the demands of the Chilean deaf community with regard to the education of deaf persons in Chile. Soon after, Congress promoted an initiative that would officially recognise Chilean Sign Language as the mother tongue of deaf Chileans.
Internet: www.prohumana.cl
