This Issue Brief aims to raise awareness about the Marrakesh Treaty, to set the stage for further discussion, and to encourage ratification in Cambodia.

Ratification of the Marrakesh Treaty would have enormous benefits for Cambodia’s over 100,000 blind and visually impaired people, who are often excluded from educational opportunities because of a lack of learning materials in accessible formats. Lack of education can lead to unemployment, poverty, and political and cultural exclusion, creating significant barriers for Cambodia to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

According to the brief, ratification of the Treaty will provide Cambodia with an additional legal framework to advocate for and to protect and promote the rights of persons with disabilities. In addition to discussing the value of ratification, the brief discusses legal changes that might be needed to implement the Treaty in Cambodia.

The Issue Brief was prepared by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in partnership with EIFL, the World Blind Union and the Association of the Blind in Cambodia. It was distributed to stakeholders at a national meeting of key stakeholders in Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia, on 23 - 24 August 2017.

EIFL supports ratification of the Marrakesh Treaty which creates an international legal framework that makes it possible for organizations like libraries to make accessible format copies (for example, in braille, large print and audio) of books and other printed works, and to share these copies across national borders.

Read more about EIFL’s support for ratification of the Marrakesh Treaty and its implementation into national law.