Benghazi – An informational session held as part of the fifth Benghazi International Book Fair addressed the significance of the Marrakesh Treaty in improving access to books and literary works for people with disabilities. The session highlighted the legal exceptions provided by the treaty, which allow individuals to benefit from cultural and educational materials in accessible formats.
Abdul Basit Abbas Al-Aqouri, a faculty member in the Arabic Language Department at the University of Benghazi and the chairman of the Libyan Organization for the Rights of the Visually Impaired, explained that the treaty aims to make books and intellectual works available to people with visual disabilities and others unable to read traditional print materials. He stressed that providing books in appropriate formats enables beneficiaries to keep up with new publications and participate more actively in cultural, intellectual, and scientific activities. This, he noted, supports inclusive education and promotes equal access to knowledge.
Dr. Ibtisam Abhih, a professor of private law at the University of Benghazi, presented a legal paper during the session. She outlined the goals of the Marrakesh Treaty, which was adopted in 2013 under the auspices of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). The treaty covers people who are blind, visually impaired, or have physical disabilities that prevent them from handling or turning pages of books.
Abhih explained that the treaty, under specific legal guidelines, permits exceptions to certain exclusive rights of authors. This allows works to be converted into accessible formats such as Braille, digital, and audio versions without the author’s prior permission. She noted that this represents a balance between protecting authors’ rights—governed locally by Law No. 9 of 1968—and the fundamental right of persons with disabilities to access knowledge.
She also emphasized the treaty’s alignment with the International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, particularly Article 9 regarding equal access to information, communication, and physical environments, and Article 30, which guarantees the right to participate in cultural life and recreational activities. Abhih pointed out that earlier national legislation, such as Law No. 5 of 1987, did not explicitly address cultural rights for persons with disabilities.
The Marrakesh Treaty plays a vital role in supporting the right of people with disabilities to access knowledge and participate in cultural life. By making works available in formats suited to their needs, the treaty ensures their full inclusion in society.