14th session of WIPO’s Intergovernmental Committee on Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore
29 June – 3 July 2009 (Geneva, Switzerland)

This session of WIPO’s IGC focused on the renewal of its mandate for the 2010-2011 biennium, without reaching agreement on a roadmap for future work. At the basis of discussions was a proposal by the African Group suggesting that the future work of the IGC should comprise “text-based negotiations”, conclude with the adoption of an “internationally legally binding instrument/s”, and be undertaken through a “defined work program and time frame, including the holding of intersessional work sessions.” The WIPO General Assembly will take up the matter of the IGC’s mandate at its September 2009 session. The session started with a panel session on “Indigenous and Local Community Initiatives in Protecting Traditional Knowledge, Traditional Cultural Expressions and Genetic Resources: Applying the Practical Lessons of Community Experience.”

Indigenous groups continued to push for full and effective participation in the IGC. In its opening statement, the Indigenous Consultative Forum stressed that any future work must fully guarantee that indigenous peoples’ participation will be upheld and respected, and reiterated that traditional knowledge cannot be protected without protecting the rights of the knowledge holders themselves. According to reports, indigenous representatives were divided with regard to the African proposal on future work. While many supported it, five indigenous peoples’ organizations stressed that it is premature to determine whether an instrument should be legally binding or not, or to initiate text-based negotiations while full and effective participation of indigenous peoples is still lacking.

Read WIPO’s press release … Read past panel presentations on indigenous and local community experiences … Read the IP Watch reports on the meeting of 30 June, 3 July, and 6 July 2009 … Watch a video interview with Terry Williams of the Tulalip Tribes … Read a TK Community post, 1 July 2009 … Download the Indigenous Consultative Forum opening statement [doc] … Download the five organizations’ statement on future work [doc] …