23 September 2015: The African Group is asking the General Assembly of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) to transform the committee that is tasked with finding a way to protect genetic resources, traditional knowledge and folklore from misappropriation into a standing committee, which would avoid having to seek renewal of the committee’s existence every two years. During the last General Assembly, WIPO member States were unable to agree on a 2015 work programme for the Intergovernmental Committee on Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore (IGC).

However, the 55th General Assembly, which is taking place 5-14 October 2015 in Geneva, Switzerland, is expected to consider renewing the IGC’s mandate, with proposals ranging from “killing the committee” (US) to continuing it as is (Switzerland, Norway and others) to making it permanent (African Group).

In July, Nigeria, on behalf of the African Group, put forward a proposal ‘Conversion of WIPO IGC into a Standing Committee,’ and is calling on the Assembly to approve the conversion at the October session. The proposal states that although the economic, social and cultural value of genetic resources, traditional knowledge and folklore is recognized, the international intellectual property (IP) system has yet to integrate the protection of traditional innovation, which has undermined the legitimacy of the IP system. The proposal adds that this has negatively impacted the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities, and enabled misappropriation of genetic resources, traditional knowledge and folklore. Because it is not a permanent body, the IGC has been unable to make progress on its agenda or develop an international instrument protecting genetic resources, traditional knowledge and folklore.

The African Group is proposing to rename the committee the ‘Standing Committee on Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Traditional Cultural Expressions (SCTK),’ whose mandate would focus on text-based negotiations to narrow gaps and agree on international legal instrument(s) that ensure the protection of genetic resources, traditional knowledge and folklore. The proposal adds that the SCTK would submit a recommendation to the 2017 General Assembly on text for an international legal instrument or instruments. [Intellectual Property Watch News Story] [55th WIPO General Assembly Website] [African Group Proposal]