[A2k] CSC Statement to the 2nd IIM on the WIPO Development Agenda

[Thiru Balasubramaniam]

This was the aural statement delivered by the Civil Society Coalition
(CSC) at today's IIM meeting held at WIPO headquarters in Geneva. Today
NGO's were given the chance to make interventions on the process issues
related to the structure of discussions envisioned for the 2nd IIM. NGOs
will have a chance later in the week to make interventions on the
substantive issues at stake at this 2nd IIM.

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Civil Society Coalition Statement to the Second Inter-Sessional
Intergovernmental Meeting on the WIPO Development Agenda

June 20, 2005

Thank you your Mr Chairman. We trust that in your able hands, this
Inter-Sessional Intergovernmental Meeting on the WIPO Development Agenda
will produce a fruitful outcome.

The Civil Society Coalition believes that the proposed work programme
tabled by Brazil on behalf of the Group of Friends of Development and
supported by India and Pakistan offers a clear way to structure the
substantive debate for the 2nd IIM. The four themes proposed by the
Group of Friends which include norm setting, a review of WIPO=92s mandate
and governance, technical assistance and capacity building, and
technology development, access to knowledge, technology transfer and
related competition policies provide a constructive template in which to
engender the integration of the development dimension into the core of
WIPO=92s activities.

In particular, we would like to draw attention to the recommendation put
forth by the 130 Heads of State and Governments of the G-77 countries
and China which met at the Second South Summit in Doha, Qatar that WIPO
=93include in all its future plans and activities including legal advice a
development dimension that includes promoting development and access to
knowledge for all=94.

There is now considerable interest in the proposal to elaborate possible
elements of an a2k treaty. The broad constituency of stakeholders who
support such an initiative include large corporations like IBM, Cisco,
and Verizon, groups like librarians, educators, blind people and the
visually impaired, academic experts and scientists, public interest
civil society groups, and governments. These groups support an access to
knowledge (a2k) treaty that would protect, enhance and expand access to
knowledge, and to facilitate the transfer of technology to developing
countries.

Thank you Mr. Chair.