Marrakesh Treaty workshop

January 9, 2023 2:54 am Published by Fridah Mlemwa

Martine Abel-Williamson, President, World Blind Union using a braille next to WBU CEO Marc Workman

The WBU was pleased to hold a three-day training workshop on the Marrakesh Treaty in Nairobi, Kenya in October 2022 with representatives of national organizations of the blind from at least 14 African countries. The Marrakesh Treaty holds a lot of promise, but we have yet to realize its full potential. As such, the theme of the workshop was “Moving from Ratification to Implementation”.

During the workshop, participants discussed experiences within their own countries and shared strategies on how to move from ratification to implementation. This workshop was a beginning, not a conclusion. A strategy document was produced as a result of participant feedback, and over the course of the next year, WBU will work with member organizations across Africa and elsewhere in the world to put this strategy into practice and push for full implementation of Marrakesh.

This training would not have been possible without support from our partners. We offer our sincere thanks to the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation, the International Disability Alliance, and our regional affiliate, the African Union of the Blind for your support to make this workshop a success.