21 July 2005.
Statement made by 3D -> Trade – Human Rights – Equitable Economy to the third session of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Inter-sessional Intergovernmental Meeting on a Development Agenda for WIPO, 20-22 July 2005.
Mr. Chairman,
Distinguished Members of WIPO,
Ladies and Gentleman,
We would like to begin by thanking WIPO Member States for granting us accreditation in order to attend the third IIM on a Development Agenda for WIPO and for allowing us to take the floor.
3D -> Trade - Human Rights - Equitable Economy is a not-for profit organization based in Geneva which promotes collaboration amongst trade, development and human rights professionals, to ensure that trade rules are developed and applied in ways that support an equitable economy.
We encourage an approach to intellectual property policy which promotes development and is human rights-consistent.
We welcome the proposals submitted to the IIM for a Development Agenda for WIPO, of which the Friends of Development proposal and the African Group proposal.
As pointed out in the Friends of Development proposal (IIM/1/4) and by the distinguished delegate from Brazil yesterday morning, it is important that in its norm-setting and policy-making, WIPO promotes coherence with other international obligations, including international human rights norms.
We therefore encourage the Members of WIPO to respect their obligations under international human rights treaties - such as the Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights or the Convention on the Rights of the Child - in all aspects of WIPO norm-setting and intellectual property policy-making.
Also, we encourage Members of WIPO to ensure that WIPO activities are coherent with the development and human rights objectives of other international organizations including the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, UNICEF, WHO and UNAIDS.
Furthermore, any independent evaluation of WIPO activities or impact assessment of intellectual property policy should take into account human rights norms and be conducted in collaboration with relevant international organizations and stakeholders.
Finally, we encourage the Members of WIPO to continue discussions on a Development Agenda for WIPO, ensuring continued transparency, access to information and participation of public-interest groups in accordance with human rights obligations.
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