[A2k] IELRC/3D event: Intellectual Property v. Human Rights?

[Thiru Balasubramaniam]

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Intellectual Property v. Human Rights?

Tackling the Negative Impacts of Intellectual Property Systems =E2=80=93 A
Human Rights
Approach


Thursday 13th March, 1.45 =E2=80=93 3 pm, Palais des Nations, Geneva



Current trends in Intellectual Property policy worldwide are truly
alarming.  They have
caused medicine scarcity and increased prices for essential drugs,
they make textbooks
inaccessible, they determine what crops will be planted, and have
permitted =E2=80=98biopiracy=E2=80=99 =E2=80=93
the patenting of traditional knowledge by large corporations.

These trends can =E2=80=93 and must =E2=80=93 be reversed.  Human Rights de=
fenders
have an important
role to play in this important task.

This panel discussion will present how Intellectual Property trends
affect human rights,
such as the right to food or the right to education.  Speakers will
show how the
involvement of the human rights community was key in limiting adverse
effects on access
to medicines.

Finally, panelists will indicate entry points and opportunities for
human rights advocates to
challenge the current trends in intellectual property policy-making to
work towards a
system that is more consistent with human rights.


Speakers include:

Ibrahim Salama, Director, Treaties and Council Branch, Office of the
United Nations
High Commissioner for Human Rights

Philippe Cullet, Director, International Environmental Law Research
Centre (IELRC)

Ambassador Trevor Clark, Ambassador of Barbados to the UN (to be
confirmed)

Alejandro Neyra, First Secretary, Mission of Peru to the UN

Gwen Hinze, International Policy Director, Electronic Frontier
Foundation (EFF)

  Organised by the International Environmental Law Research Centre
(IELRC) and 3D =E2=86=92 Trade -
Human Rights - Equitable Economy, in cooperation with the Office of
the High Commissioner
for Human Rights



For information contact 3D =E2=86=92 T HR EE, info@3dthree.org, tel: 022 32=
0
2121

------------------------------------------------------------


Thiru Balasubramaniam
Geneva Representative
Knowledge Ecology International (KEI)
thiru@keionline.org


Tel: +41 22 791 6727
Mobile: +41 76 508 0997