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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b>From:</b> State-Affiliate-Leadership-List <state-affiliate-leadership-list-bounces@nfbnet.org> <b>On Behalf Of </b>Danielsen, Chris via State-Affiliate-Leadership-List<br><b>Sent:</b> Friday, February 8, 2019 7:36 AM<br><b>To:</b> Danielsen, Chris <CDanielsen@nfb.org><br><b>Cc:</b> Danielsen, Chris <CDanielsen@nfb.org><br><b>Subject:</b> [State-affiliate-leadership-list] National Federation of the Blind Celebrates Ratification of Marrakesh Treaty<o:p></o:p></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><div><p><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>NEWS BRIEF</span></b><o:p></o:p></p><h1 style='mso-margin-top-alt:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:105%;break-after:avoid'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:105%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>National Federation of the Blind Celebrates Ratification of Marrakesh Treaty</span><o:p></o:p></h1><p><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>Geneva, Switzerland (February 8, 2019):</span></b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'> Today, the United States government formalized its ratification of the Marrakesh Treaty by depositing the US instrument of ratification with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). This action begins a ninety-day waiting period, after which the treaty will officially be in force as US policy, throwing open the doors to expanded literacy for the blind of America and the world.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>“The National Federation of the Blind seeks the removal of all artificial or unnecessary barriers to access to knowledge by the blind,” said Mark Riccobono, President of the National Federation of the Blind. “That is why we championed the Marrakesh Treaty and fought for its signing and ratification by the United States. Today’s deposit of the US ratification instrument represents the culmination of that effort, but even more importantly, it represents greater access to the world’s literature and knowledge for blind people in America and across the world. We are therefore pleased to celebrate this historic moment with our blind brothers and sisters everywhere.”</span><o:p></o:p></p><p><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>Read more regarding the Marrakesh Treaty in the following articles:</span><o:p></o:p></p><p><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'><a href="https://nfb.org/blog/marrakesh-express-rolling-home">Marrakesh Express Rolling Home</a></span><o:p></o:p></p><p><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'><a href="https://nfb.org/about-us/press-room/us-house-representatives-passes-marrakesh-treaty-implementation-act"><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>US House of Representatives Passes Marrakesh Treaty Implementation Act</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></p><p><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'><a href="https://nfb.org/blog/united-states-senate-greenlights-marrakesh-treaty-and-implementing-legislation"><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>United States Senate Greenlights Marrakesh Treaty and Implementing Legislation</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></p><p><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'><a href="https://nfb.org/about-us/press-room/senate-committee-votes-advance-marrakesh-treaty"><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Senate Committee Votes to Advance Marrakesh Treaty</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></p><p><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'><a href="https://nfb.org/about-us/press-room/national-federation-blind-applauds-introduction-legislation-implementing"><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>The National Federation of the Blind Applauds the Introduction of Legislation Implementing the Marrakesh Treaty</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></p><p align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>###</span></b><o:p></o:p></p><p><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>About the National Federation of the Blind </span></b><o:p></o:p></p><p><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>The National Federation of the Blind (NFB), headquartered in Baltimore, is the oldest and largest nationwide organization of blind Americans. Founded in 1940, the NFB consists of affiliates, chapters, and divisions in the fifty states, Washington DC, and Puerto Rico. The NFB defends the rights of blind people of all ages and provides information and support to families with blind children, older Americans who are losing vision, and more. We believe in the hopes and dreams of blind people and work together to transform them into reality. Learn more about our many programs and initiatives at </span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'><a href="http://www.nfb.org"><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>www.nfb.org</span></a></span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>. </span><o:p></o:p></p><p><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>CONTACT:</span></b><o:p></o:p></p><p><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>Chris Danielsen</span><o:p></o:p></p><p><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>Director of Public Relations</span><o:p></o:p></p><p><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>National Federation of the Blind</span><o:p></o:p></p><p><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>(410) 659-9314, extension 2330</span><o:p></o:p></p><p><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>(410) 262-1281 (Cell)</span><o:p></o:p></p><p><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'><a href="mailto:cdanielsen@nfb.org">cdanielsen@nfb.org</a></span><o:p></o:p></p><p><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'> </span><o:p></o:p></p></div></div></body></html>