Blind SA and SECTION27 invite you to join us in a march on 27 June 2023

Blind SA and SECTION27 invite you to join us in a march on 27 June 2023 at 10: 00 in Pretoria to advocate for the ratification of the Marrakesh Treaty

 

27 June 2023 marks the 10^th Anniversary of the WIPO Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Blind, Visually Impaired or Otherwise Print Disabled Persons. Unfortunately, South Africa has not yet ratified this Treaty, which would allow persons who are blind or visually impaired to access millions of books in accessible formats from around the world. The government has repeatedly claimed that it cannot ratify until the Copyright Act has been amended to include exceptions for persons who are blind or visually impaired that align with the Treaty.

 

However, in September last year, the Constitutional Court ordered Parliament to fix the Copyright Act within two years, and in the meantime, ordered that exceptions to copyright for persons who are blind or visually impaired be read into the Act. This reading-in now fixes the legislation and provides the legal framework that allows the State to ratify the Marrakesh Treaty immediately.

 

Blind SA and SECTION27 are now calling on the government to ratify the Marrakesh Treaty as soon as possible.

 

The attached memorandum will be handed to officials at the following departments: Trade and Industry, Competition, Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Justice and Correctional Services, and International Relations and Cooperation. We attach an open letter calling for the urgent ratification of the Marrakesh Treaty to be published on 23 June.

 

SECTION27 and Blind SA request your endorsement for the attached open letter and memorandum by 21 June 2023. The memorandum and open letter will include logos/names of endorsing organisations. Please send your logo when endorsing.

Please click on this link: https://www.change.org/p/sa-government-cripples-blind-people-s-access-to-braille-books-endthebookfamine-signthemarrakeshtreatynow-10yearstoolate-governmentza-dirco-za-claysonmonyela-blindsa-ngo-section27news?utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=custom_url&recruited_by_id=5ea7d840-8360-11ec-b998-a5be8d647a34

 

We invite you to join us in a march in Pretoria on 27 June. Please inform us by 21 June if you will attend the march. If you require transportation, please let us know.

 

RSVP here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1rxR0kMnqSFsfNVmJi-bYwH181E4ugYkNbJKby_XHM0Y/edit

 

Details of the march:

 

Date: 27 June 2023

Time: 10:00 – 13:00

Departure point: Rietondale Tennis club

Cnr. Soutspanbergweg & Van der Merwe Str.

Pretoria

End point: DIRCO

OR Tambo Building

460 Soutspanbergweg, Pretoria

 

 

 

THE URGENT CALL FOR THE IMMEDIATE RATIFICATION OF THE MARRAKESH TREATY    – Click here to download

BLINDSA OPEN LETTER ON THE MARRAKESH TREATY   – Click here to download