PRESS STATEMENT
Monday 21, December 2009
PACIFIC MODEL LAW ON TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE:
Paving the way internationally
The Pacific Model Law for the protection of Traditional Knowledge and Expressions of Culture is paving the way for work in this area around the world.
The Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, Tuiloma Neroni Slade, said as Pacific Islander, he is very pleased with this development, as it brings broad recognition to what the region is doing on protection of Traditional Knowledge.
Mr Slade further observed that the Model Law potentially promises income generation for Pacific communities, which is vital for building livelihoods and economies.
Also applauding this development, Ms Terri Janke, an expert in Traditional Knowledge and Intellectual Property Rights and consultant with the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), said the Pacific Model Law is internationally recognised and gives the Pacific a leading edge in the area of Traditional Knowledge protection.
“I look to the Model Law as a solid example for use in my own work and have heard references to its framework at international fora.”
Ms Janke was in Nadi recently for a workshop attended by international Traditional Knowledge and Intellectual Property Rights experts and senior government officials from across the region. The workshop was convened by the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat and WIPO.
Added Ms Janke: “The Pacific has been extremely proactive in this area and I commend those countries involved in restoring that imbalance of rights brought about by Traditional Knowledge abuse.”
Traditional Knowledge refers to the large body of knowledge and skills embedded in culture and unique to a given location or society.
The region’s work in this area aims to progress national and regional frameworks for Traditional Biological Resources (protection of traditional plants, medicinal knowledge) and Traditional Knowledge and Expressions of Culture (protection of traditional arts, songs, dances).
The Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat leads the inter-agency collaboration in the protection of Traditional Knowledge with the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) and WIPO.
The mandate for the Forum Secretariat to develop frameworks for Traditional Knowledge protection arose at the Forum Trade Ministers Meeting in 1999. The Traditional Knowledge Action Plan was consequently developed in consultation with regional stakeholders and endorsed by Pacific ACP Trade Ministers in 2008.
The Action Plan was officially launched at the Nadi workshop last week.
Funding towards implementation of the Traditional Knowledge Action Plan has been provided by the European Union through its TradeCom Facility.
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For more information contact the Forum Secretariat’s Communications Officer, Mue Bentley Fisher via email: mueb@forumsec.org.fj or mob +679 9998677.
