Today marks World Book and Copyright Day, established by UNESCO, a day that promotes reading, publishing and copyright awareness. SECTION27 and Blind SA highlight a painful and ongoing exclusion: for blind and visually impaired people in South Africa, that world remains firmly out of reach. To commemorate the day, the Continue Reading
On Thursday, 28 November 2024, the Constitutional Court will urgently hear Blind SA’s case, requesting that exceptions to copyright that were previously read into the Copyright Act, be resuscitated. These exceptions would allow persons who are blind and visually impaired to convert books into formats, like braille, without the consent Continue Reading
SECTION27 and BLIND SA have raised concerns about the severe lack of reading material available to individuals who are blind and visually impaired in South Africa. This situation infringes upon their constitutional rights to basic education, equality, dignity, freedom of expression, and the right to participate in their preferred cultural life. Fortunately, South Africa’s ratification of the Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons Who Are Blind, Visually Impaired or Otherwise Print Disabled (“Marrakesh VIP Treaty”) presents a significant opportunity for improvement.
27 June 2023, Johannesburg – Today, SECTION27, Blind SA and other activists and civil society organisations will march in Pretoria to urge the South African government to ratify the Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons who are Blind, Visually Impaired or Otherwise Print Disabled. The Treaty Continue Reading
20 June 2023, Johannesburg – SECTION27 and Blind SA invite the media to a march on 27 June in Pretoria to urge the South African government to ratify the ‘Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons who are Blind, Visually Impaired or Otherwise Print Disabled Persons’. The Treaty Continue Reading
SECTION27 and Blind SA, in partnership with Nal’ iBali, invite you to the launch of a storybook, ‘Crossing the Road’, on 19 April 2023 ahead of the World Book and Copyright Day which takes place on 23 April 2023. The storybook, which is designed for primary school learners, is based Continue Reading
MEDIA ADVISORY: ACTIVISTS SPEAK ON THE NEED TO #ENDTHEBOOKFAMINE FOR PERSONS WHO ARE BLIND OR VISUALLY IMPAIRED IN SHORT VIDEO SERIES Constitutional Court will hear case about access to books for persons who are blind or visually impaired on 12 May 2022 11 May 2022, Johannesburg – Tomorrow, 12 May, Continue Reading
MEDIA ADVISORY: ACTIVISTS TO MARCH TO CONSTITUTIONAL COURT TO #ENDTHEBOOKFAMINE FOR PERSONS WHO ARE BLIND OR VISUALLY IMPAIRED 12 MAY 2022 Constitutional Court will hear case about access to books for persons who are blind, activists to march in support of watershed case. 9 May 2022, Johannesburg – Activists will Continue Reading
BLINDSA AND SECTION27 CELEBRATE COURT ORDER DECLARING COPYRIGHT ACT UNCONSTITUTIONAL, AND ADVANCE TO CONSTITUTIONAL COURT FOR CONFIRMATION 22 September 2021, Johannesburg – BlindSA and SECTION27 welcome an order of the High Court of South Africa (Gauteng, Pretoria Division) declaring that the Copyright Act of 1978 is invalid for violating the Continue Reading
COURT CASE TO #ENDTHEBOOKFAMINE FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND OR VISUALLY IMPAIRED TO BE HEARD 21 SEPTEMBER 2021 8 September 2021, Johannesburg – BlindSA, represented by SECTION27, is going to court to fight for the rights of people who are blind or visually impaired by asking the court to amend Continue Reading
