UNESCO forum highlights accessibility and cultural rights for visually impaired people

The Third Panel on Information and Communication Accessibility and Cultural Rights Protection was held at UNESCO headquarters in Paris on Wednesday, bringing together officials, experts and scholars to discuss ways to advance information accessibility and cultural inclusion.

The event was jointly organized by UNESCO's Information for All Programme (IFAP), the China Foundation for Human Rights Development and the Communication University of China.

UNESCO officials expressed appreciation for China's support for the Information for All Programme and its continued efforts to improve information accessibility.

Speaking at the seminar, Guilherme Canela, director of UNESCO's Division for Digital Inclusion, Policies and Transformation and secretary of IFAP, noted that 2026 marks both the 20th anniversary of the adoption of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the 25th anniversary of IFAP.

Canela said cooperation between UNESCO and China in promoting information accessibility would contribute to the implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and help advance the goals of the UN Global Digital Compact at the global level.

Mariya Gabriel, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Communication and Information, thanked China for its support and expressed hope for deeper cooperation in the years ahead.

She praised China's Guangming Cinema project for its efforts to ensure that no one is left behind, noting that the initiative provides accessible audiovisual content for around 8 million visually impaired people and has established successful partnerships with major streaming platforms.

Zheng Peng, deputy secretary of the Party Committee of the Communication University of China, said China's 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) specifically calls for strengthening technology-assisted support for persons with disabilities and improving accessibility in public facilities, information exchange and social services.

He introduced Guangming Cinema, an accessibility initiative launched by the university that produces 104 audio-described films annually and benefits students at 2,244 special education schools across China.

Zheng also highlighted the university's Institute for Accessible Information Communication, which conducts research and practical cooperation with UNESCO in the field of accessible communication.

Qin Liang, deputy secretary-general of the China Foundation for Human Rights Development, said China has continued to promote equal access to public cultural services through initiatives such as digital reading programs for visually impaired people and accessibility upgrades to digital platforms.

He noted that China's recently released National Human Rights Action Plan (2026-2030) calls for expanding cultural services and products for persons with disabilities, increasing the supply of accessible radio, television and audiovisual programs, and strengthening information accessibility.

"The development of accessible information communication in China is expected to enter a new stage," Qin said.

At an accessible film screening held after the seminar, Yang Xinyu, China's delegate to UNESCO with ambassadorial rank, said China has consistently worked to integrate persons with disabilities into the country's development process by improving access to education, employment, public services and cultural life.

Yang emphasized that persons with disabilities are not only beneficiaries of development but also contributors to culture, innovation and social progress.

"The significance of accessibility projects lies not only in providing assistance, but also in creating opportunities for people with disabilities to participate in society, express themselves and share in a rich and diverse cultural life," she said.