SC approves Filipino Sign Language in court proceedings

The Supreme Court en banc has approved the rules on Filipino Sign Language (FSL), institutionalizing its use in court proceedings.

With this, equal and full access to justice for the entire deaf community will be ensured.

The high court’s decision paves the way for the formal establishment of FSL as an essential but regulated component of the judicial process.

This comprehensive set of rules operationalizes the Filipino Sign Language Act (Republic Act No. 11106) and upholds the nation’s commitment under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD).

The rules institutionalize the system by making the engagement of qualified and accredited FSL interpreters mandatory in all proceedings involving deaf parties or witnesses.

The framework extends accessibility by permitting the use of both on-site and remote interpreting, with necessary safeguards to protect the accuracy, confidentiality, and reliability of interpretations across all methods.

The rules also establish clear professional standards and procedures for accreditation and payment within the judiciary to guarantee the competence and ethical conduct of interpreters.

A technical working group chaired by Associate Justice Japar B. Dimaampao drafted the rules, refining standards through extensive meetings and consultations with stakeholders, including representatives from deaf organizations and interpreters’ groups, ensuring the rules are responsive to the community’s needs.

The court said the FSL rules are a vital part of the SC’s flagship initiative, the Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations 2022–2027 (SPJI), specifically strengthening its Access to Justice program.

Once the rules are published in the Official Gazette or in two newspapers of national circulation, they will take effect.