UNCTAD Expert Meeting on Systems and National Experiences for Protecting Traditional Knowledge, Innovation and Practices
Geneva, 30 October – 1 November 2001
This meeting brought together over 200 experts from some 80 countries. All major stakeholder groups were represented, including national policy makers, trade negotiators, indigenous groups, the business sector, NGOs, academics and international agencies. The experts addressed the objectives of TK protection systems and possible means of achieving those ends, including prior informed consent, access and benefit sharing mechanisms, strengthening customary/traditional law, using intellectual property instruments, developing sui generis systems, documenting traditional knowledge, as well as measures to encourage TK-based innovations and the development and export ot TK-derived products (where appropriate).
The meeting’s outcome will be considered by the Commission on Trade in Goods and Services, and Commodities, at its fifth session (19-23 February 2001).
· Official documentation for the meeting (agenda, background note, report, etc.)
· Expert papers submitted to the meeting