Vietnam joins Marrakesh Treaty to protect interests of visually impaired people

Addressing the presentation, Ambassador Le Thi Tuyet Mai, head of the Permanent Mission of Vietnam to the United Nations, WTO, and other international organisations in Geneva, noted that the country’s participation in the Marrakesh Treaty marks an important milestone in reasonably balancing the protection of copyrights and interests of persons who are blind, visually impaired, or otherwise print disabled.

The participation also aims to implement the Vietnamese State’s policy on supporting and creating conditions for the disabled in the country to practice the rights to equality and community integration in the best possible manner, she noted.

Congratulating Vietnam, WIPO Director General Daren Tang affirmed that WIPO will assist the libraries for those people to connect with the organisation’s ABC Global Book Service so as to contribute to and share digital books, supplement the collection, and supply the books for them in Vietnam.

Following the presentation, Mai had a meeting with WIPO Director General Daren Tang and Deputy Directors General Sylvie Forbin and Hasan Kleib, expressing thanks to the WIPO leaders for helping Vietnam carry out cooperation activities.

She asked WIPO to continue implementing joint activities between the two sides, including the enforcement of the Marrakesh Treaty that Vietnam has joined.

Tang recognised Vietnam’s achievements in sustaining a high ranking in the Global Innovation Index. He pledged to enhance cooperation between WIPO and ASEAN countries, including Vietnam, to successfully carry out cooperation aspects, including the enforcement of the Marrakesh Treaty.

The Marrakesh Treaty, adopted by WIPO on June 27, 2013, is the latest supplements to the WIPO-managed international treaties on copyrights.