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Fourth
Meeting of the Ad hoc Open-ended Intersessional Working
Group on Article 8(j) and Related Provisions of the
Convention on Biological Diversity |
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23 - 27
January 2006 | Granada, Spain
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Highlights
for Tuesday, 24
January 2006
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On Tuesday,
delegates convened in two Sub-Working Groups (SWGs)
and addressed: an international regime on access
to genetic resources and benefit-sharing (ABS);
genetic use restriction technologies (GURTs); an
ethical code of conduct on cultural and
intellectual heritage of indigenous and local
communities; the composite report;
sui generis systems
for the protection of traditional knowledge (TK);
and indicators on TK. Delegates also met in a
contact group and “friends of the Chair”
group on the ethical Code of Conduct.
Above photo: Leif John Fosse
(Norway) in consultation with CBD Secretariat
and SWG-II Co-Chairs
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SUB-WORKING GROUP I:
INTERNATIONAL ABS REGIME
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The
IIFB, proposed that the Executive Secretary be requested
to convene an international workshop to evaluate the
potential impacts of the regime on TK, biological
knowledge and indigenous rights, and prepare a report to
be considered by both WGs.
Above photo L-R: Le'a Malia Kanehe and Debra
Harry (IIFB)
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CANADA
informed participants of the on-going preparation of an international workshop
for indigenous experts and ABS negotiations to be held in Vancouver.
Above photo: Timothy Hodges (Canada)
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Ethiopia, on behalf of
AFRICA, reiterated that the Article 8(j) WG should recommend that the ABS WG address
TK as a component of the international regime on ABS.
Above photo: Tewolde Berhan Gebre Egziabher (Ethiopia)
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On
the international ABS regime, FRIENDS OF THE EARTH-GLOBAL FOREST COALITION opposed
negotiation of an ABS regime before undertaking impact
studies on indigenous peoples.
Above photo: Simone Lovera (Friends of the
Earth-Global Forest Coalition)
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INDIA
stressed that the international regime should address
TK and called for disclosure of origin and of TK in
patent applications.
Above photo: Sujata Arora (India) |
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NEW ZEALAND
suggested compiling
national ABS practices incorporating implementation of
Article 8(j).
Above photo: Felicity Buchanan (New Zealand) |
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COMPOSITE
REPORT:
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Kiribati,
on behalf of the PACIFIC SUB-REGION, supported
Africa's call for deletion of all
remaining references to registers.
Above photo L-R: SWG-II
Co-Chair Abete-Reema reading the ENB with Kautoa
Tonganibeia (Kiribati) |
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The
EU proposed deleting a recommendation to consider the
development of registers, but keeping other references
to registers.
Above photo: Hermann Hansmann (EU) |
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GUATEMALA
proposed analyzing the implications of registers as an
activity of Article 8(j) WG.
Above photo: José Armando Ismalej (Guatemala)
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SUI
GENERIS SYSTEMS:
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BRAZIL
said a sui generis system should incorporate defensive
protection, to safeguard TK from misappropriation, and
protection from erosion at the community level.
Above photo: Hadil Fontes Da Rocha Vianna
(Brazil)
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The
IIFB said the system should be based on customary laws,
and link TK to the control of lands and resources.
Above photo: Datu Vic Saway (IIFB)
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SAINT LUCIA
requested references to the UN Draft Declaration on the
Rights of Indigenous Peoples
Above photo: Albert Deterville (Saint Lucia)
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SUB-WORKING
GROUP II: ETHICAL CODE
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THAILAND
suggested using the code as a pre-condition for research
funding.
Above photo: Vanida Khumnirdpetch (Thailand) |
AUSTRALIA
suggested inviting the submission of comments, including
by researchers and industry, and including them in a
document for an upcoming meeting of the Article 8(j) WG.
Above photo L-R: Caroline McCarthy and Susan
Jones (Australia)
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Considering
the code a minimum standard MAORI UNIVERSITIES – CALL
OF THE EARTH said communities could enforce higher
standards and the code should not apply to their
internal research.
Above photo: Aroha Te Pareake Mead (MAORI
UNIVERSITIES – CALL OF THE EARTH) |
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GENETIC
USE RESTRICTION TECHNOLOGIES (GURTS):
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SWG-II
Co-Chair Abete-Reema (with Dan Ogolla, CBD) invited delegates to
consider potential socioeconomic impacts of GURTs and
propose recommendations to COP-8 on the issue. |
The PHILIPPINES
called for a continuing moratorium on GURTs field trials
and commercialization.
Above photo: Elpidio Peria (The Philippnes) |
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The
EU stressed the need for a precautionary approach and
supported capacity building on GURTs.
Above photo: Cosima Hufler (EU) |
Highlighting
the overwhelming negative impacts of GURTs, BAN
TERMINATOR CAMPAIGN expressed concern over two newly
granted patents.
Above photo: Lucy Sharratt (Ban Terminator
Campaign)
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The
PUBLIC RESEARCH AND REGULATION INITIATIVE (PRRI),
supported further research on GURTs, with a
case-by-case risk assessment of any new product.
Above
photo L-R: Allen Van Deynze and Andres
Wigdorvitz (PRRI) |
The
FEDERATION OF GERMAN SCIENTISTS warned that GURTs do
not guarantee containment.
Above photo: Ricarda Steinbrecher
(Federation of German Scientists) |
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