[A2k] 3D Statement to WIPO PCDA: WIPO Development Agenda & Human Rights

[Davinia Ovett]

Dear colleagues,

Below is the statement made by 3D at the WIPO PCDA on the issue of the WIPO
Development Agenda and human rights.

The document will be available to download from 3D's website on Thursday 23
February from the following link: www.3dthree.org

Best regards,

Davinia

******************

PROVISIONAL COMMITTEE ON PROPOSALS RELATED TO A WORLD INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
ORGANIZATION (WIPO) DEVELOPMENT AGENDA

FIRST SESSION, GENEVA, 20-24 FEBRUARY 2006

Statement by
3D -> Trade - Human Rights - Equitable Economy

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 first PCDA meeting and for allowing us
to take the floor.

3D -> Trade - Human Rights - Equitable Economy (3D) 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.

3D encourages the elaboration of intellectual property systems that are
consistent with the development commitments and human rights obligations of
States.

We welcome the proposals submitted to the Provisional Committee on Proposal=
s
Related to a WIPO Development Agenda (PCDA) and those submitted to the WIPO
intersessional intergovernmental meetings (IIMs) in 2005.

In the spirit of providing constructive=A0and substantive input to WIPO's
Development Agenda discussions, we would like to draw the attention of
Member States to a Policy Brief just published by=A03D entitled, =93Policy =
Brief
on Intellectual Property, Development and Human Rights: How Human Rights Ca=
n
Support Proposals for a World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
Development Agenda.=94

As outlined in the brief, we believe that human rights can support a number
of reforms put forward in the proposals for a WIPO Development Agenda.

For example, human rights rules and mechanisms support the call for greater
coherence between the policies of WIPO and those of other United Nations
organs.

Also, the reporting and assessment dimensions of human rights law support
the idea of independent evaluation of WIPO activities and impact assessment=
s
of intellectual property policies.

Furthermore, human rights law also encourages a more transparent,
non-discriminatory and human rights-consistent approach to WIPO norm-settin=
g
activities and requires the implementation of a system of meaningful public
consultation and effective participation in decision-making.

Human rights also support proposals for the reform of WIPO technical
assistance in a manner that is non-discriminatory and responds to the needs
of the most vulnerable and marginalized individuals and groups.

Finally, human rights rules and mechanisms could provide a framework for th=
e
elaboration of a Treaty on Access to Knowledge and Technology, by putting
the right to access information at the core of such a treaty.

We therefore encourage WIPO Member States to use the PCDA discussions to
achieve an actionable WIPO Development Agenda that is coherent with their
development and human rights commitments.

We hope that this human rights perspective will be of interest and value
to=A0all of=A0the delegations participating in this week.


Davinia Ovett
Programme Officer
3D -> Trade - Human Rights - Equitable Economy
15, Rue des Savoises
CH-1205 Gen=E8ve
Switzerland
Tel: +41 22 320=A021 21
Fax:=A0+41 22 320 69 48
Email: dovett@3dthree.org
Website: www.3dthree.org
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