The Malawi Union of the Blind has requested government to swiftly ratify the Marrakesh Treaty as a way of promoting the wellbeing of people with visual impairment in the country.
Speaking at a press brief in the commercial city of Blantyre, president of the Malawi Union of the Blind Mapopa Mgomera Shawa said if the treaty is ratified it will help people who are blind to fully participate in the development of this country.
“I believe government can take an initiative to ratify the treaty people with people with this disability will actively take part in economic empowerment, education and elections,” said Mgomera.
He added that President Peter Mutharika may have been misled by the treaty hence the delay to ratify it.
Marrakesh Treaty is meant to facilitate access to published works for persons who are blind, visually impaired or otherwise print disabled.
The Treaty was adopted on June 27, 2013 in Marrakesh and it forms part of the body of international copyright treaties administered by WIPO.
It has a clear humanitarian and social development dimension and its main goal is to create a set of mandatory limitations and exceptions for the benefit of the blind, visually impaired, and otherwise print disabled (VIPs).
