[A2k] eIFL/IFLA statement on TVI

[Teresa Hackett (eIFL)]

This statement was delivered this morning.

French and English (below).


WIPO Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights
Nineteenth Session, Geneva, December 14-18, 2009
Statement on Agenda Item 4
Limitations and Exceptions

Electronic Information for Libraries (eIFL.net)
International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA)

Je vous remercie, Monsieur le Pr=E9sident. Nous tenons aussi =E0 f=E9licite=
r
l=92Ambassadeur Clarke pour sa nomination au poste de sous directeur g=E9n=
=E9ral.

Nous discuterons ici de la proposition de trait=E9  concernant les
aveugles  et handicap=E9s  visuels (SCCR/18/5). Nous remercions les
=C9tats-Unis pour leur d=E9claration de soutien et leur volont=E9 d'essayer=
 de
trouver le bon moyen d=92apporter l'acc=E8s au mat=E9riel en faveur des
malvoyants. En effet, ces derniers ont les m=EAmes besoins d=92information
que les personnes voyantes et les biblioth=E8ques ont longtemps jou=E9 un
r=F4le de soutien pour cette communaut=E9. Les biblioth=E8ques sp=E9cialis=
=E9es au
service des aveugles et malvoyants ont une fonction importante en raison
de la n=E9cessit=E9 de cr=E9er et de mettre en place des collections sous d=
es
formats alternatifs. Dans le m=EAme temps, tous les types de biblioth=E8que=
s
  devraient servir  les aveugles  et autres  handicap=E9s visuels.

Pour commencer, posons nous une seule question de base : les aveugles et
d=E9ficients visuels  ont ils droit au m=EAme acc=E8s aux =9Cuvres prot=E9g=
=E9es que
les  personnes voyantes? Si la r=E9ponse est oui, alors le chemin =E0 suivr=
e
est clair: les =C9tats membres devraient oeuvrer pour l'adoption d'un
trait=E9 international qui faciliterait l'acc=E8s de ces derniers =E1 ces o=
euvres.

Honorables  d=E9l=E9gu=E9s, je viens du S=E9n=E9gal qui fait partie des pay=
s  en
d=E9veloppement o=F9 vivent plus de 90% des handicap=E9s visuels. Je travai=
lle
comme biblioth=E9caire =E0 l=92Universit=E9 Cheikh Anta Diop de Dakar. Un d=
e mes
plus grands r=EAves en tant que biblioth=E9caire serait de pouvoir mettre e=
n
place un fonds  documentaire accessible aux d=E9ficients  visuels. Mais
malheureusement, nous ne disposons pas encore de ces types de ressources.

C=92est triste et dommage =E0 la fois, car la disponibilit=E9 de ces
ressources leur ouvrirait  d=92=E9normes opportunit=E9s et  mettrait =E9gal=
ement
fin =E0 un terrible gaspillage de potentiel humain.

En effet, comme mentionn=E9 dans le rapport Sullivan dans beaucoup de pays
africains, la loi n=92autorise pas la cr=E9ation de copies en faveur des
handicap=E9s visuels, et ceci malgr=E9 le besoin qui  en existe. Et ces
ressources existent d=E9j=E0 dans certaines organisations comme le CNIB
Canada pour les Aveugles.  La signature de ce trait=E9 serait donc une
opportunit=E9 =E1 saisir pour r=E9soudre ce probl=E8me de l=92acc=E8s =E0 c=
ette
documentation en permettant l=92utilisation et le  partage transfrontalier
des contenus  d=E9j=E0 disponibles.

Pour finir, je citerai l=92OMS qui estime que le nombre de personnes
aveugles dans le monde est appel=E9 =E0 doubler au cours des vingt
prochaines ann=E9es, notamment dans les pays =E0 revenu =E9lev=E9, d=FB en =
partie
au fait que les gens vivent plus longtemps. Ainsi, cette question  nous
concerne tous car chacun de nous peut =EAtre touch=E9 par une d=E9ficience
visuelle  dans l'avenir.

Donc, agissons d=E8s maintenant car la technologie est l=E0, mais il nous
manque le cadre juridique pour nous appuyer.


Tout ce qu'il nous faut, c'est la volont=E9 politique de r=E9soudre cette
situation. Je vous invite donc respectueusement, distingu=E9s d=E9l=E9gu=E9=
s =E0
adopter cette proposition de trait=E9 en faveur des aveugles, handicap=E9s
visuels et malvoyants.

Je vous remercie, Monsieur le Pr=E9sident.
-----

WIPO Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights
Nineteenth Session, Geneva, December 14-18, 2009
Statement on Agenda Item 4
Limitations and Exceptions

Electronic Information for Libraries (eIFL.net)
International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA)

Thank you, Mr Chairman. This statement is made on behalf of Electronic
Information for Libraries (eIFL.net) and the International Federation of
Library Associations (IFLA). We extend our congratulations to Ambassador
Clarke

We will speak about the proposal by Brazil, Ecuador and Paraguay
relating to limitations and exceptions for blind, visually impaired and
other reading disabled people (SCCR/18/5). We thank the United States
for their supportive statement and their willingness to try to find the
right means of addressing access to materials for people with print
disabilities. Blind and visually impaired people have the same
information needs as sighted people. Libraries have long played a role
in supporting this community. Special libraries serving the blind and
visually impaired people serve an important function because of the need
to create and build collections in alternative formats, often due to the
lack of accessible material. At the same time, all types of libraries
including academic and public libraries serve blind and reading disabled
clients.

I believe that we need ask ourselves only one basic question. Should
blind and reading disabled people be afforded the same access to
copyrighted materials as sighted persons? If the answer is yes, then the
path ahead is clear: Member States should work for the adoption of an
international treaty that facilitates access.

Distinguished delegates, I come from Senegal in the developing world
where more than 90% of blind and reading disabled people live. I work as
a librarian at the University Cheikh Anta Diop de Dakar. One of my
greatest dreams as a librarian is to be able to create a repository of
documents in accessible formats for visually impaired people. However,
the fact is that we can offer them nothing at all because our libraries
have no resources available dedicated to their needs.

It is both sad and a pity because the availability of resources would
open up such great opportunities and put an end to a terrible waste of
human potential.

However, as documented in the Sullivan report, the law in many African
countries does not permit copying for the benefit of  blind and visually
impaired people, despite the great need that exists. Yet many resources
in accessible formats are already available from organisations such as
CNIB Canada. Adoption of this treaty would provide an opportunity to
resolve this shameful situation of lack of access by permitting the
cross-border sharing of already available content.

Finally, the World Health Organization estimates that the number of
blind people in the world is set to double over the next twenty years
including in high income countries, due in part to the fact that people
are living longer. So this issue may touch us all in the future. The
technology is there, but we need a supporting legal framework. Now all
we need is the political will to resolve it. I respectfully urge
distinguished delegates to adopt this treaty proposal for blind,
visually impaired and other reading disabled people.

Thank you, Mr Chairman.