NEW SouthViews: #IGC53 moved toward clearer objectives for the international instrument on #traditionalknowledge & traditional cultural expressions.

There is still a long way to go, & coordination will be key.

By Dr. Viviana Munoz Tellez

www.southcentre.int/southviews-n...

@wipo.int

On Thursday afternoon (in plenary), 24 September 2026 the chair of #IGC53 proposes that Alternative X be replaced with Alternative 3 in Article 2 (objectives) in both the traditional knowledge and traditional cultural expressions texts. @wipo.int

Chair: "Thank you. I now move to another change that was made which is to Article 3 in Document 52 /5 in the eligibility criteria. We introduced a comma after Peoples in 3.1 (a) in the original facilitator's alternative." @wipo.int #IGC53 @manonress.bsky.social @wendwendland.bsky.social

On 17 September, South Centre together with the Mission of Iran held a @wipo.int IGC53 side event on ratifying & implementing the #GRATK Treaty. A key takeaway is the growing momentum, marked by a new "Friends of GRATK" coalition pushing for entry into force. #TraditionalKnowledge

Intellectual Property and Traditional Medicine: Rethinking Access, Benefit Sharing, and Data Governance. @who.int @keiwashdc.bsky.social #IGC53 Tuesday, 22 September 2026.

"It is the view of KEI that separate instruments for traditional knowledge and traditional cultural expressions are more manageable, as the issues raised are significantly different, as are the nature of the rights and/or measures." @keiwashdc.bsky.social #IGC53 www.keionline.org/41439

"For its part, the European Union and its Member States continue to hold the view that any international instrument on traditional knowledge and traditional cultural expressions should be nonbinding and should support a balanced, flexible and measures-based approach." @wipo.int #IGC53

(Ambassador Zaheer Laher, South Africa) speaking for the African Group: "In this regard, the Group welcomes the initiative of Nigeria to establish a cross-regional core group of champions dedicated to promoting ratification of and accession to the Treaty." @wipo.int #IGC53

Timetable for IGC53. It appears that text-based discussions commence on Thursday, 17 September 2026. www.wipo.int/edocs/mdocs/... @wipo.int