Over two decades of negotiations have climaxed in the birth of a new treaty in the early hours of May 24, 2024, in Geneva, Switzerland at the WIPO 2024 Diplomatic Conference on Genetic Resources and Associated Traditional Knowledge.

The WIPO Diplomatic Conference on Genetic Resources (GRs) and Associated Traditional Knowledge (ATK) is now on its second week (since May 13, 2024). We are pleased to provide an update in continuation of our first report.

The first two days of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Diplomatic Conference on Genetic Resources and Associated Traditional Knowledge kicked off on a generally positive note.

As experts and top diplomats count down to the WIPO Diplomatic Conference in Geneva, Switzerland (May 13-24, 2024) in a final push to birth a treaty on Genetic Resources (GRs) and Associated Traditional Knowledge (ATK), we at Access and Benefit Sharing Canada reflect on the anticipated outcome of the historic meeting, tampering expectations and offering some clarification.

With the WIPO Diplomatic Conference on Genetic Resources and Associated Traditional Knowledge approaching, the National Congress of American Indians is prepared to advance its position so that Indigenous Peoples’ rights and interests are included in the final stages of negotiations.