This is an excellent Treaty. The Benetech team is delighted by its adoption today. We have the technology, we have the content, and now we have the legal framework to make it possible for every person with a print disability on the planet to get access to the books they need for education, employment and social inclusion!
In Part 3 of this blog series, we highlight a report by our CEO, Jim Fruchterman, from Geneva, Switzerland on the latest developments regarding the Marrakesh Treaty to bring accessible books to people with disabilities around the world. Now that sixty-odd countries have signed the Marrakesh Treaty, the emphasis has switched to implementing it. Earlier this month, Jim flew to WIPO headquarters in Geneva to participate in a series of meetings with stakeholder groups working to address the need to change laws and get more accessible books flowing.
Martin Kieti, who leads Bookshare outreach in Africa, recently hosted a workshop with inABLE and the DAISY Consortium for publishers in Kenya to learn about the Global Book Famine for people with reading barriers, and the importance of digital accessible books.
Zainab Chinikamwalla is the Head of Membership in Asia and Africa for Benetech’s Bookshare Initiative. She joined Benetech in the early days of Bookshare’s international expansion and has played an integral role in helping grow Bookshare’s impact in India and beyond. Read her story.
Sadaf Khan is an accomplished professional who credits support from her family and volunteers, technology tools, and her own academic diligence to achieve her goals.
