ABFCALLS FOR AN END TO THE ‘BOOK FAMINE’

WORLD BOOK AND COPYRIGHT DAY – 23 APRIL 2016

Millions of people across the world, including children and students, are being denied access to books and other printed materials because less than 10% of published works are made into accessible formats in developed countries.

This global lack of accessible published materials is known as the ‘book famine’. The World Blind Union, of which ABF is the Australian representative, has worked alongside multiple stakeholders for years to overcome this book famine. These efforts have resulted in the Marrakesh Treatyto Facilitate Access to Published Works for People who are Blind, Visually Impaired or otherwise Print Disabled, which will directly address the book famine in two important ways:

  • it will enable ‘authorised entities’, such as blindness organisations and libraries, to more easily reproduce works into accessible formats (e.g. Braille, DAISY, audio, large print, e-books), for non-profit distribution
  • it will permit authorised entities to share accessible books and other printed materials across borders with other authorised entities.

The current international system does not allow for cross-border sharing, leading to the needless duplication of books, which uses up already limited resources. However, once the Marrakesh Treaty comes into force, cross-border sharing will be legal, which will help to avoid the duplication of reproduction efforts in different countries.

The Marrakesh Treaty can only start helping end the book famine once it is ratified and implemented. The MarrakeshTreaty and its benefits will only apply to countries that have ratified it, and it will only come into force once it has been ratified by 20 countries. Currently, the treaty has been ratified by 15 countries, making it possible for the treaty to come into force in 2016, allowing its promise of access to information and literature for all to turn into a reality.

ABF congratulates the Australian Government for ratifying the Marrakesh Treaty last year and calls for every government to stop denying their blind and print disabled citizens their right to read by ratifying and then effectively implementing the Marrakesh Treaty. This will ensure that its original spirit of human rights and equality for all is maintained throughout its implementation.

23 April 2016

Contact:
Tony Starkey
Chair
Australian Blindness Forum
0408 666 170 /
ABN 47 125 036 857

PO Box 1188
Canberra ACT 2601