"The Assembly also recognises sign languages as a complete and natural means of communication for deaf people.
The Assembly takes the view that official recognition of these languages will help deaf people to become integrated into society and gain access to justice, education and employment."
Recommendation 1598 (2003) on the protection of Sign languages in the member states of the Council of Europe (2), http://assembly.coe.int/nw/xml/XRef/Xref-XML2HTML-en.asp?fileid=17093&lang=en