Abstract
The Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons Who Are Blind, Visually Impaired, or Otherwise Print Disabled (hereinafter MT) was adopted by the WIPO Member States on 27 June 2013, to improve access to books and other printed works for persons with print disabilities. The Marrakesh Treaty entered into force on 30 September 2016 - three months after achieving 20 ratification instruments on 30 June 2016. As of May 2020, 65 countries have ratified the Marrakesh Treaty. It is open to any WIPO Member State or other intergovernmental organizations authorized by its Assembly of Contracting Parties; there is no requirement to be a member of any other international copyright treaty in order to join the Marrakesh Treaty. Worldwide, there are more than 285 million blind and visually impaired persons (hereinafter VIP), 90 per cent of whom live in developing countries. According to the World Blind Union (WBU), less than 5 per cent of books published every year worldwide are made available in formats accessible to VIPs, and, overall, less than 10 per cent of all published materials can be read by blind or VIPs. This is commonly referred to as the ‘global book famine’. The lack of books in accessible formats becomes a real obstacle for VIPs to getting an education, diminishing their chances of getting a job and leading an independent life. Human rights play a fundamental role in justifying the need for this Treaty.
Published Version
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call