Belarus joins the WIPO Marrakesh Treaty

On July 22, 2020 the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Belarus to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva, Mr. Yury Ambrazevich, met with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Director General, Dr. Francis Gurry, at the WIPO headquarters. 

During the meeting the Belarussian Side handed over the instrument of Belarus accession to the Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons Who Are Blind, Visually Impaired or Otherwise Print Disabled. 

Mr. Y.Ambrazevich noted that Belarus participation in WIPO multilateral conventions is a practical result of the implementation of agreements reached during the official visit of Mr. F.Gurry to Minsk in June 2019 and contained in the revised Memorandum of Cooperation between the Government of Belarus and WIPO dated June 4, 2019. Belarus Permanent Representative stressed positive dynamics of Belarus – WIPO cooperation aimed to improve Belarusian legislation in the area of intellectual property enforcement and to promote innovation. He thanked WIPO Director General for the technical and expert assistance rendered to Belarus in this direction. 

Belarus is to become the 70th contracting party to the Treaty, which will contribute to expanding the access of visually impaired persons in our country to cultural and other information, as well as to published works. This is another determined step to ensure the rights of persons with disabilities.
Background information: the WIPO-administered Marrakesh Treaty was signed on June 27, 2013 and entered into force on September 30, 2016. The Treaty is aimed at expanding access to literary and artistic works for the blind, visually impaired and other persons with disabilities by creating uniform conditions for all contracting parties for the reproduction and distribution of works in an accessible format. 

Based on the materials provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus.