The European Parliament has today approved the final deal linked to the implementation of the Marrakesh treaty. This will make exceptions to some copyright rules for books, enabling them to be published in accessible format for people who are blind or visually impaired.

This move will also enable blind organisations and libraries in the EU to transfer these books across borders without any cost, helping to increase their availability in less developed countries. At present, just 5% of books in the EU and 1% worldwide are made in an accessible format.

Member States now have 12 months to implement this into law, with the deal hopefully becoming a reality in Autumn 2018. [1]

Jean Lambert, London’s Green MEP, says:

“I’m delighted that cross-party MEPs today voted overwhelmingly in favour of implementing the Marrakesh treaty. This decision will improve lives – giving millions of blind and visually impaired people worldwide the opportunity to enjoy books, whether though large print or braille, or the use of audio tools.

This treaty is a perfect example of the EU working well to make far-reaching, positive changes that cross borders – both within Europe, and in less developed countries. I now call on Member States to implement the act quickly, to allow these books to reach the people that need them without delay.”

Notes:

[1] https://www.greens-efa.eu/en/article/press/more-accessible-books-available-for-blind-and-visually-impaired-people/

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* Austerity hits people with disabilities harder – European Parliament

With people with disabilities disproportionately impacted by austerity, London’s Green MEP Jean Lambert has welcomed a call by the European Parliament today for all European countries to do more to fulfil their commitments under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

MEPs voted overwhelmingly in support of the conclusions of a progress report on the EU’s implementation of the UN Convention. This was the first time the European Parliament has given an opinion on how well the EU is fulfilling its obligations to ensure that people with disabilities can enjoy their rights on an equal basis with all other citizens, since the EU and its members signed the convention in 2011.

The UK is a signatory to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in its own right, so its obligations will be unaffected by its exit from the European Union.

Jean Lambert MEP commented: ​​“Today the European Parliament has sent a strong message regarding the EU’s commitment to equality and respect for human rights.

“I particularly welcome the call for governments to urgently take action to prevent and reverse the negative consequences of austerity policies on people with disabilities.

“With disabled people still significantly less likely to be in employment than non-disabled people governments must do more to help people with disabilities access jobs and training.

“Leaving the EU should in no way alter the rights of people with disabilities in the UK and the government needs to act on the recommendations of this progress report and uphold these rights fully, particularly given the harm caused by austerity measures.”

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‘Autism in Pink’ is an EU-funded project examining issues facing women and girls with autism in four EU countries – the UK, Spain, Portugal and Lithuania.

It is thought there are some 5 million people with autism in the EU – and while most are believed to be men and boys no-one knows for sure how many of them are female, or how many females with autism remain undiagnosed.

The Autism in Pink project is a partnership of groups – including the London-based National Autistic Society – looking at the prevalence of the condition and assessing the competences and needs of women with autism, in order to provide support and education both for women on the spectrum and for their parents, carers and teachers, as well as social care and health professionals.

Ms Lambert, who is a member of the European Parliament’s cross-party Group on People with Disabilities, said she was delighted to meet the inspirational women.

She said: “Thousands of Londoners have Autistic Spectrum Disorders, and many of them are women.

“They have a wide range of support needs – and I am pleased the EU has funded research into the specific issues facing women on the Autistic Spectrum. The early findings point to a clear need for greater awareness amongst professionals and much better, effective support for individuals after a diagnosis has been made.

“The women I met today have clear expectations as a result of the study. They do not want their work to be “worth nothing” as one speaker put it. I am looking forward to the full outcome of the project, which will culminate in an international conference in May, and hope any recommendations it makes will be speedily adopted by Governments.

“This is yet another example of the ways in which the UK’s continued membership of the EU is helping some of our most vulnerable groups.”

For more information about the ‘Autism in Pink’ project, see its website here .

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