The Rwanda Union of the Blind (RUB) has called on government and private institutions, individuals, faith-based and non-governmental organisations to contribute to the availability of Braille reading and writing materials in schools, workplaces, and public spaces. ALSO READ: Visually impaired people set to benefit from amended copyright law The call was made on Sunday, January 4, as Rwanda joined other countries to mark World Braille Day. “Such efforts help build a more inclusive and equitable Rwandan society,” said Jacques Mugisha, Executive Director of the union. “Braille is a tactile writing system made of dots that might seem small, but to many Rwandans since 1979, it opens entire worlds. Braille is not only a writing system; it represents literacy, independence, dignity, self-confidence, education, and participation in daily life for blind and partially sighted Rwandans.” According to the union, Braille transforms lives. “We know that when a blind or partially sighted child learns to read or write Braille early, they do not just learn words—they learn to believe in themselves, building a strong pathway to knowledge and awareness.” Also read: Rwanda accedes to Marrakesh Treaty to deepen inclusiveness of persons with disability. Reading and writing using Braille as adults, the union said, gives blind and partially sighted people the opportunity to reduce dependency in decision-making, without relying on others, while embracing opportunities such as inclusive education, vocational skills training, rehabilitation services, civic engagement, and participation in service delivery. Also read: Will visually impaired learners’ hurdles end soon? Recognising that the Rwandan government ratified the Marrakesh Treaty in 2021—which aims to help blind and partially sighted, print-disabled persons have access to books and other literary works in accessible formats—the union has encouraged all artists, authors, publishers, and printing houses to rethink their approaches and take action to reduce the “book famine” for Braille users. What to know about the Marrakesh Treaty The Marrakesh Treaty was adopted on 27 June 2013 and entered into force on 30 September 2016. Rwanda ratified the treaty on 7 September 2020. The treaty links intellectual property law with human rights conventions, especially the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Under the Marrakesh Treaty, each country is required to create one or more limitations or exceptions to copyright law, allowing certain acts to be carried out without infringing copyright in the interests of beneficiaries. This means countries should adopt laws enabling the production and distribution of works in formats accessible to people with visual impairments, without requiring the authorisation of rights holders. Also read: Visually impaired to get easy access to published works Examples of accessible formats include Braille, books on devices such as Orbit Readers, and books with audio components. Previously, visually impaired children in schools had no access to materials such as novels because the treaty had not yet been implemented. Schools were unable to obtain authorisation from authors to make educational materials accessible in formats suitable for people with visual impairments. Since 2023, the Ministry of Trade and Industry announced that amendments to the law on the protection of intellectual property could make such access legal. Previously, Rwanda’s copyright law required permission from owners or publishers before reproducing any material in accessible formats. Rwanda’s new law on accessible formats The new law on the protection of intellectual property, published in the Official Gazette in July 2024, grants permission to reproduce published books in accessible formats. The law recognises the Marrakesh Treaty and aims to facilitate access to published works for persons who are blind, visually impaired, or otherwise print disabled. It allows the free reproduction of works for persons with intellectual or physical disabilities. An authorised entity can, without the authorisation of the author or copyright owner and without payment, make an accessible format copy of a work, obtain accessible copies from another authorised entity, and supply these copies to visually impaired or print-disabled persons by any means, including non-commercial lending or electronic communication. Accessible format copies are supplied exclusively for use by persons who are visually impaired or print disabled, and all activities must be undertaken on a non-profit basis, the law specifies.
