OAPAM will present Morocco's experience at the Johannesburg conference. Delegates will discuss assistive technology, early intervention and accessible learning materials.
The 2nd African Conference of the International Council for Education of People with Visual Impairment (ICEVI Africa) is scheduled for September 28 to October 2, 2026, in Johannesburg. Its theme is "Towards 2030: Actualising Inclusion, Innovation and Impact in Education of Persons With Visual Impairment."
OAPAM is represented by Secretary-General Salaheddine Semmar and Abderrazak Boughenbour, director of its teaching institutes and training centers. Its contribution covers inclusive education and training, assistive technologies and artificial intelligence, accessible educational resources, early intervention and cooperation across relevant sectors. Education officials, disability organizations, researchers and specialists in assistive technology and accessible publishing will meet to share expertise on education for visually impaired learners. The agenda is wide.
The Marrakesh Treaty is central to discussions about accessible books and educational materials. Adopted under the World Intellectual Property Organization in 2013, it sets copyright limits and exceptions that let authorized entities make and exchange accessible-format copies for people who are blind, visually impaired or otherwise print-disabled. WIPO's treaty overview says the agreement has more than 100 contracting parties. Morocco is a party. The practical challenge is to make accessible-format exchange work well, rather than treat the issue only as a question of further ratification.
For Maghreb policymakers, the issue links disability inclusion with education, publishing and access to public services. Regional reporting by Morocco's MAP news agency, Algeria's APS and Tunisia's TAP forms part of the wider public discussion of these policy challenges. That does not mean those agencies organized the conference or endorsed specific proposals. African Union bodies and the UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) also consider wider continental inclusion issues. The links are clear.
OAPAM operates under the presidency of Princess Lalla Lamia Essolh. Its participation gives the organization a platform to present Morocco's experience in educating and training blind and visually impaired people, exchange expertise and strengthen international cooperation. This social-policy work differs from the infrastructure investment covered in Morocco's airport expansion. Both concern how programmes affect access and opportunity.
The conference's value will depend on whether its priorities lead to accessible materials, effective early intervention and stronger cooperation. OAPAM will bring Morocco's experience into the discussion. The Marrakesh Treaty's cross-border framework also makes access to learning a practical regional issue, not just a conference theme.
