ENB:04:55
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ARTICLE 22 -- CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES:
The issues that
proved to be the most difficult included the COP's budget and the
COP's role in establishing criteria for compensation for the use of
traditional and local sources of knowledge. The first issue was
resolved by the contact group on finance. Rather than going into
the specifics on the source of budget funds, the sub-paragraph
reads "approve a programme and budget for its activities, including
those of its subsidiary bodies, and undertake necessary
arrangements for their financing." The issue of traditional and
local sources of knowledge was resolved as part of a package deal
with Article 16 and the paragraph now states that the Conference of
the Parties may request competent national and international
organizations, which have relevant expertise, to provide it with
information relevant to Articles 16(g), 17.1(c) and 18.2(b). This,
in effect, removes the responsibility for substantive deliberations
on this issue from the mandate of the COP.
The rest of the Article sets forth the role of the COP in:
reviewing implementation of the Convention; promoting exchange of
information; establishing subsidiary bodies; adopting rules of
procedure; adopting amendments to the Convention; electing its
Bureau; holding extraordinary sessions; and exercising other
functions deemed appropriate. The first session of the COP shall be
convened by the interim secretariat and shall take place not later
than one year after the date of entry into force of the Convention.
Unless decided otherwise, the second, third and fourth ordinary
sessions shall be held yearly and, thereafter, ordinary sessions
shall be held every two years.