PIFS, Geneva, 8 October 2024 -- On the 24 May 2024 Pacific Island countries celebrated a significant milestone as member states of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) concluded negotiations on the groundbreaking WIPO Treaty on Intellectual Property, Genetic Resources, and Associated Traditional Knowledge.
This new international legal framework represents a triumph for nations abundant in traditional knowledge and rich in biodiversity, such as the Pacific region. The treaty establishes new international standards that ensure communities, including Indigenous peoples and local communities, are recognized and safeguarded when their traditional knowledge and genetic resources are utilized by others.
A core aspect of the treaty is its requirement for patent applicants to disclose whether their inventions are based on genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge, as well as the sources of these resources and knowledge. This transparency is expected to support the sustainable use of natural resources while protecting the rights of communities who have stewarded them for generations.
Pacific countries played an active role in these negotiations, with acknowledgment and thanks to the support of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). A generous grant of AUD 103,000 from DFAT enabled enhanced participation from the region, as well as specialized technical assistance to inform and coordinate regional positions.
Ambassador James Baxter, representing Australia, expressed pride in the collaborative achievement, stating: “Australia is honoured to have played a role in empowering our Pacific neighbors to actively participate in the negotiations. This treaty is not only a win for biodiversity and traditional knowledge but also a testament to the power of regional cooperation."
Ambassador Falemaka, on behalf of the Pacific Islands Forum, added: "The Pacific has long been a custodian of invaluable traditional knowledge and genetic resources. This treaty will ensure that our communities are protected, recognized, and can share in the benefits of global innovation based on our natural and cultural heritage."
The treaty, which included the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Niue, and Vanuatu amongst the first 36 signatories in May 2024, will enter into force once it is ratified by 15 contracting parties, a step eagerly anticipated by all stakeholders.--ENDS
Contact: media@forumsec.org
