The International Conference on TRIPS- CBD Linkage will be held in Geneva on June 7-8, 2018 to revive WTO discussions on issues related to theft of traditional knowledge.
International Conference on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) - Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
The conference will be organised jointly by Indian Government, Centre for WTO Studies, Indian Institute of Foreign Trade and the South Centre, an inter-governmental organisation based in Geneva.
BACKGROUND
In 2008, developing countries garnered the support of the European Union to form a coalition of 109 countries, which included the African and Caribbean and Pacific Countries, for the TRIPS-CBD Linkage and seeking amendment of the TRIPS Agreement.
TRIPS CBD Linkage is important for India and other developing countries because it seeks to address bio-piracy.
The Convention on Biological Diversity is a multilateral agreement on sustainable development that has been ratified by 196 nations.
The Convention entered into force on 29 December 1993.
The convention calls for
Conservation of biological diversity
Sustainable use of its components
Fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of the utilisation of genetic resources