Nikki supporting the right for greater access to Brail Texts

I spoke last night in a debate titled, "Blind Person's access to Books"

The debate focussed around the following:

In order to confront the problem of access for blind and print disabled persons to books and other printed products, the World Blind Union and the European Blind Union have proposed an internationally binding treaty at the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) to establish a targeted exception to copyright. The Commission and Council, on the other hand, are proposing stakeholder agreements in the EU and a voluntary recommendation at WIPO. The European blind community deems both to be wholly insufficient.

Here is my response:

 Mr President, I am pleased to support any initiative that empowers and enables physically-disadvantaged people, in this case the blind and partially sighted.

 The EU has been, in my opinion, insensitive to the needs of millions of blind and partially-sighted people. All Member States and relevant institutions should make the strongest possible representations to the World Intellectual Property Organisation in Geneva in June for a full, binding treaty. This is the best way to ensure the fundamental right to read that is currently denied to far too many – apparently 300 million worldwide.

 Put an end to this famine.

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