Jamaica Seventh Caribbean Country to Ratify Marrakesh Treaty

Jamaica became the seventh Caribbean country to enhance access to published works for persons with disabilities by acceding to the Marrakesh Treaty, recently.

This landmark international agreement, administered by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), facilitates the production and exchange of copyrighted materials, such as books, in accessible formats like braille, large print, and audiobooks.

By joining St. Vincent and the Grenadines, the Dominican Republic, Trinidad and Tobago, St. Lucia, Barbados, and Belize, Jamaica has reaffirmed its commitment to fostering an inclusive society, where access to information and knowledge is recognised as a fundamental right for all.

The Marrakesh Treaty aims to address the global “book famine” experienced by people with visual impairments and other print disabilities.

Globally, less than 10 per cent of published works are available in formats accessible to individuals with disabilities, a gap that the Treaty seeks to bridge.

Jamaica’s official accession to the Treaty on August 28 is a significant milestone in this effort and will allow the cross-border sharing of accessible format copies between member countries, thereby increasing access to educational, cultural, and informational resources for people with visual and other reading disabilities.

In addition to these provisions, the Jamaican government has introduced amendments to the country’s Copyright Act to include provisions that benefit individuals with hearing disabilities, going beyond the scope of the Marrakesh Treaty, which primarily focuses on print disabilities.

Speaking at a recent JIS ‘Think Tank’, Executive Director of the Jamaica Intellectual Property Office (JIPO), Lilyclaire Bellamy, highlighted the importance of this progressive step.

“The Treaty does not specifically address the needs of the hearing-impaired community. However, as part of our commitment to inclusivity and aligning with Sustainable Development Goal No. 10, which focuses on reducing inequalities, Jamaica has gone above and beyond to ensure that provisions for those with hearing impairments were included,” Ms. Bellamy explained.

She also emphasised that the Marrakesh Treaty’s definition of “print disability” extends beyond visual impairments.

“The Treaty speaks to people with print disabilities, including those who may not be able to physically hold a book. In such cases, they will need it in an audio format,” the Executive Director pointed out.

“Although the primary focus is on visually impaired individuals, the benefits extend to anyone who cannot access standard formats of books, providing broader support for the entire disabled community,” Ms. Bellamy added.

Jamaica’s accession to the Marrakesh Treaty will unlock new opportunities for persons with print disabilities by increasing access to educational and cultural materials, facilitating the international sharing of accessible format copies, and reducing duplication of efforts across borders.

This, in turn, will empower individuals with disabilities to participate fully in society, thereby significantly enhancing their quality of life.