Talks On Traditional Knowledge And Access, Benefit-Sharing

An expert body on traditional knowledge as it relates to an access and benefit-sharing regime on genetic resources began discussion Tuesday in India. They will examine the way in which proposed aspects of the regime relate to indigenous communities and the way in which they manage and protect their knowledge.

The creation of an international regime on access and benefit-sharing (ABS) is a project of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, and is meant to be completed by a meeting of the parties to the CBD scheduled for October 2010. At the last such conference, in May 2008, it was decided that there would be six meetings to prepare different aspects of the ABS regime: three meetings of a working group, and three meetings of technical and legal experts focussing on concepts and working definitions, compliance, and traditional knowledge (IPW, Biodiversity, 30 May 2008).

The traditional knowledge experts’ meeting will last from 16 – 19 June, in Hyderabad, India. Attending are 30 experts nominated by parties to the CBD as well as 15 observers, of which seven have been nominated by and to represent indigenous communities. More information and meeting documents are available here.