From 30 May to 5 June 2025, the 51st session of the Intergovernmental Committee on Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore (IGC) was held at the headquarters of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in Geneva.

 

Bogdan Paduchak, First Deputy Director of the Ukrainian National Office of Intellectual Property and Innovations (UANIPIO), represented Ukraine at the session’s meetings.

 

New International Treaty

 

This year’s session is particularly important in light of the adoption in May 2024 in Geneva of the WIPO Treaty on Intellectual Property, Genetic Resources and Associated Traditional Knowledge. This WIPO-administered international treaty is the first to establish a link between intellectual property, genetic resources, and traditional knowledge. It also includes provisions relating to Indigenous Peoples and local communities. Its provisions directly relate to the UANIPIO’s functioning as an International Searching Authority and International Preliminary Examining Authority under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), considering future amendments to the PCT Administrative Instructions.

 

 

The future of traditional knowledge and traditional cultural expressions

 

The Committee considered numerous important issues, including:

 

• ways to prevent the illegal appropriation of traditional knowledge and traditional cultural expressions;

 

• the functioning of the Voluntary Fund for Indigenous and Local Communities;

 

• the organization of a thematic panel with the participation of such communities;

 

• updating the glossary of key terms related to Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Traditional Cultural Expressions;

 

• technical review of WIPO tools within the Framework of Indigenous Human Rights;

 

• further development of legal models for the protection of Traditional Knowledge and Traditional Cultural Expressions.

 

The Committee continued its work on the harmonization of draft international instruments based on documents WIPO/GRTKF/IC/49/4 and  WIPO/GRTKF/IC/49/5, as the previous session did not reach consensus on the final text.

 

The Committee took stock of the progress made during the two-year period (2024–2025) and confirmed that the texts prepared during this session – “The Protection of Traditional Knowledge: Draft Articles” (document WIPO/GRTKF/IC/51/4) and “The Protection of Traditional Cultural Expressions: Draft Articles” (document WIPO/GRTKF/IC/51/5) – would be submitted to the 2025 WIPO General Assembly.

 

Importantly, the Committee also decided (WIPO/GRTKF/IC/51/DECISIONS) to recommend to the 2025 WIPO General Assembly that the mandate of the Committee be renewed for the 2026-2027 biennium with the objective of finalizing a draft international legal instrument.

 

Mandate key elements for 2026–2027:

 

• The Committee will continue its work to finalize an agreement on an international legal instrument(s), which will ensure the balanced and effective protection of Traditional Knowledge (TK) and Traditional Cultural Expressions (TCEs).

 

• The Committee’s work on TK and TCEs will build on the existing work carried out by the Committee, including text-based negotiations, with a primary focus on narrowing existing gaps and reaching common understanding on core issues;

 

• The Committee will continue to discuss intellectual property issues concerning Genetic Resources (GRs) and their interlinkage with TK and TCEs, but without normative work on GRs;

 

• In 2027, the WIPO General Assembly will take note of discussions on Genetic Resources and take stock of progress made on Traditional Knowledge and Traditional Cultural Expressions, and based on the maturity of the text(s) on TK and TCEs, including levels of agreement on objectives, scope, and nature of the instrument(s), decide on whether to convene a diplomatic conference and/or continue negotiations.

 

Objections as to the accreditation of a pro-russian organization

 

During the session of the WIPO Intergovernmental Committee, the Ukrainian delegation expressed its disagreement with granting ad hoc observer status to the russian organization ‘Union of Indigenous Small-Numbered Peoples “SOYUZ”’.

 

Bogdan Paduchak expressed doubts about this organization’s compliance with the criteria for obtaining observer status and its ability to make an objective contribution to the work of the Committee. He separately emphasized that the participation of observers should be based on the principles of WIPO and the values of the United Nations – transparency, integrity and respect for the rights of Indigenous Peoples.

 

At the same time, Ukraine confirmed its readiness for constructive dialogue with all interested parties who sincerely support the protection of traditional knowledge and traditional cultural expressions.

 

As a result, the decision on the accreditation of several Indigenous Peoples’ organizations was adopted, excluding the organization from russia.

 

Ukraine’s position: Commitment to protecting Indigenous Peoples

 

At the opening of the 51st session of the WIPO Intergovernmental Committee, the Ukrainian delegation called for the international community not to ignore the systematic crimes of the russian federation against the cultural heritage and Indigenous Peoples of Ukraine.

 

In its opening speech, the Ukrainian delegation drew attention to the devastating consequences of the ongoing russian aggression, which is destroying cultural heritage, undermining the intellectual property system and violating the rights of Indigenous Peoples in the occupied territories.

 

Bogdan Paduchak, who made this statement, recalled that since 2015, more than 50,000 Crimean Tatars have been forcibly mobilized into the russian army, and the Indigenous People themselves are subjected to systematic persecution, including illegal arrests and intimidation. He also highlighted one of the largest combined aerial attacks on the territory of Ukraine, which took place from 24 to 26 May 2025, involving the use of more than 900 weapons, including ballistic and cruise missiles and drones. The attacks killed dozens of civilians and destroyed residential and social infrastructure.

 

The delegation’s statement emphasizes that these actions contradict the goals and values of the WIPO and the UN Charter. Ukraine is convinced that the russian federation should not have any privileges or honours within the WIPO and should be held accountable internationally.

 

”We are grateful to all WIPO member states and the Secretariat for their unwavering support of Ukraine and solidarity with our people. Only through joint efforts can we ensure real and non-discriminatory protection of the rights of indigenous peoples around the world,” concluded Bohdan Paduchak.

 

Support for Ukraine from the CEBS Group and like-minded countries

 

The Central European and Baltic States (CEBS) Group members issued a joint statement in support of Ukraine. The statement was delivered on behalf of the Group by the Estonian delegation.

 

 

The Group’s representatives strongly condemned russia’s aggressive war, which is causing irreparable damage to Ukraine’s cultural, educational, scientific and research infrastructure.

 

‘For the fourth consecutive year, this brutal full-scale war has exacerbated the negative effects outlined in the WIPO Report on the Assistance and Support for Ukraine’s Innovation and Creativity Sector and Intellectual Property System,’ the statement said.

 

The CEBS members reiterated its full support for UN General Assembly Resolutions ES-11/1 and ES-11/4, which condemn russia’s aggression and attempts to annex Ukraine’s territories.

 

A group of like-minded countries, including Austria, Australia, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, also delivered a joint statement on this matter.

 

 

In their statement, the like-minded countries condemned russia’s unprovoked aggression, which has caused unprecedented human suffering and enormous destruction of civilian infrastructure, as well as entailed severe drainage of the intellectual human capital of Ukraine which has and for years will have serious negative social, academic as well as economic implications.

 

The countries supported WIPO’s decision to assist Ukraine’s innovative and creative sector, emphasizing the importance of its full implementation. They reaffirmed their unwavering support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, called on russia to stop its invasion of Ukraine, and noted that no business as usual would be possible within the multilateral cooperation framework unless russia is held fully accountable for waging a war of aggression against Ukraine.

 

Copyright: WIPO. Photo: Emmanuel Berrod

 

Read also:

 

Support for entrepreneurs in the Kyiv region: reimbursement program for IP registration fees launched

 

WIPO Program and Budget Committee Discuss 2026/27 Budget: Ukraine Calls to Close WIPO Office in russia