[A2k] World Blind Union general statement to WIPO 2009 General Assembly

[Thiru Balasubramaniam]

http://keionline.org/node/623

World Blind Union general statement to WIPO 2009 General Assembly


This is the general statement delivered by the representative of the
World Blind Union today (September 29, 2009) at the WIPO General
Assemblies.

WBU statement:

"The World Blind Union is the worldwide organisation representing the
interests of 160 million blind and partially sighted persons in 177
member countries.

Currently only 5% of all published works are produced in accessible
formats which visually impaired and other print disabled people can
read, such as large print, braille and audio. We describe this as a
"Book Famine". Most of the works that are available in accessible
formats are to be found in a few specialist organisations around the
world. These organisations have scarce resources. To maximise these
and increase the percentage of books available to print disabled
people, these organisations need to be able to legally share their
books across
national borders. However, due to the national nature of copyright
law, they are unable to do so.

On Tuesday Mr Francis Gurry, WIPO Director General,described to the
General Assembly the two initiatives under WIPO auspices that can help
solve this problem. He said

    "Following the entry into force of the Convention on the Rights of
Disabled Persons, a Stakeholders' Platform has been established and a
treaty proposal has been tabled on access to published works on the
part of the visually impaired."

The World Blind Union strongly supports both the work with rights
holders in the "Stakeholders' Platform" and the treaty proposal that
Brazil, Ecuador and Paraguay tabled in May at the 18th SCCR. These
complementary activities are both essential to a workable and
meaningful solution to the "Book Famine". In respect of the Treaty
Proposal , WBU warmly endorses Brazil's General Statement to the WIPO
General Assemblies, delivered by H.E. Ambassador Roberto Azevedo, Head
of the Delegation, of Brazil. The Ambassador stated that, and I quote:

    "achieving progress on talks about a legal instrument that makes
access to education and culture possible for the visually impaired
will be the ultimate test for the capacity of WIPO to live up to the
values of the United Nations and to contribute to the attainment of
the Millennium development goals. We must continue to work towards an
effective convergence of the international systems for the protection
of human rights and of intellectual property."

The World Blind Union agrees, and millions of print disabled people
around the world are waiting for the fruits of this labour. We urge
all States Parties to work with us on both initiatives and so help us
realise our "right to read" as reaffirmed by the GRULAC region,
Australia, India and Malaysia."

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Thiru Balasubramaniam
Geneva Representative
Knowledge Ecology International (KEI)
thiru@keionline.org


Tel: +41 22 791 6727
Mobile: +41 76 508 0997