To analyze, summarize and finalize the national approaches and practices of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) member states in pursuance of the main provisions of the WIPO Treaty on Intellectual Property, Genetic Resources and Traditional Knowledge associated with Genetic Resources (WIPO Treaty).
These and other issues are in the focus of the 48th and 49th sessions of the WIPO Intergovernmental Committee on Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore, which are taking place this week in Geneva, Switzerland.
The Ukrainian delegation joined the Intergovernmental Committee at the WIPO headquarters, and included the following members:
The WIPO Treaty on Intellectual Property, Genetic Resources and Traditional Knowledge associated with Genetic Resources was adopted during the Diplomatic Conference in May 2024 in Geneva.
This is the first WIPO treaty to address the relationship between intellectual property, genetic resources and traditional knowledge and includes provisions that protect the rights of indigenous people, as well as local communities.
During the 48th session of the Intergovernmental Committee (held on November 29, 2024), the level of progress made in the field of genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge was determined, and other issues were discussed. In particular, during the session it was emphasized that the principle of inclusiveness, transparency and evidence-based approach should be applied to achieve a mutually acceptable result in the intellectual property ecosystem.
The 49th session of the Intergovernmental Committee began on December 2 and will last until December 6, 2024. Opening the 49 ession, Assistant Director General Edward Kwakwa emphasized the importance of efforts by Member States to unify approaches to the regulation of traditional knowledge and traditional cultural expressions. He also drew attention to the need to fill the Voluntary Fund for Accredited Indigenous and Local Communities to finance and enable their participation in the work of the Intergovernmental Committee.
The Ukrainian delegation emphasized the historic adoption of the WIPO Treaty and the efforts of the International Bureau and Member States that contributed to this important achievement.
Ukraine remains committed to protecting the rights and dignity of indigenous peoples and local communities. This was emphasized by Bogdan Paduchak during his statement during a session of the Intergovernmental Committee.
“In the context of continued efforts to protect genetic resources, traditional knowledge, and traditional cultural expressions, we must once again bring to the attention of this Committee the ongoing and deliberate destruction, which caused by the Russian Federation war of aggression against Ukraine. Russia continues to target the history, culture, and IP system of Ukraine and its people”, – emphasized the representative of the Ukrainian delegation.
He emphasized that after the illegal occupation and annexation of Crimea, the indigenous people of Ukraine, the Crimean Tatars, were systematically persecuted, intimidated, and imprisoned.
“Since 2015, around 44,500 people have been conscripted for military service in occupied Crimea, while those rejecting Russian citizenship face threats, restrictions, and potential deportation”,– noted Bogdan Paduchak, adding: the Russian aggression against Ukraine has resulted in the destruction of more than 2,100 cultural sites, including libraries, museums, theatres and monuments. Historic centres such as those in Lviv and Odesa have also been severely damaged. These attacks target Ukraine’s cultural identity and heritage, and aim to erase the unique heritage and culture of its indigenous peoples and local communities”.
Ukraine’s statement was supported by:
The 48th and 49th sessions of the WIPO Intergovernmental Committee are focused on the following issues:
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