Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities Portal
WIPO's Indigenous Portal provides access to information for, and relating specifically to, indigenous peoples and local communities.
News
How can WIPO help protect your traditional knowledge?
WIPO's Intergovernmental Committee (IGC) is undertaking text-based negotiations with the objective of reaching agreement on a text (or texts) of an international legal instrument (or instruments) which will ensure the effective protection of traditional knowledge, traditional cultural expressions and genetic resources.
WIPO Voluntary Fund
The WIPO Voluntary Fund facilitates the participation of indigenous and local communities in the work of the IGC.
WIPO Indigenous Fellowship Program
Our Indigenous Fellowship Program – launched in 2009 – enables members of indigenous and local communities to work in WIPO's Traditional Knowledge Division on issues relevant to indigenous peoples.
A Call for expressions of interest for the WIPO Indigenous Fellowship program in 2024-2025 has been launched (deadline April 21, 2024) 
Customary Law and IP
Customary law is the set of customs, practices and beliefs that are accepted as obligatory rules of conduct by a community. Customary law forms an intrinsic part of social and economic systems and the way of life of indigenous peoples and local communities.
What role customary law should play in the wider protection of traditional knowledge (TK) is a challenging question that raises a host of policy and legal issues. Holders of traditional knowledge have stressed that respect and recognition of customary law is integral to appropriate protection of traditional knowledge against misuse and misappropriation by others.
Find out more
- Customary Law and TK
- Customary Law, TK and IP: An Outline of the Issues
- Customary Law in the Protection of TK - Regional Study in the Andean Countries
- Customary Law in ABS and TK Governance: Perspectives from Andean and Pacific Island Countries
Publications
Events
Indigenous panels
Presentations on indigenous and local community experience – delivered at sessions of the IGC by a panel of representatives – provide invaluable insight into the experiences, concerns and aspirations of indigenous and local communities concerning the protection, promotion and preservation of traditional knowledge.
Workshops
WIPO hosts practical workshops for indigenous peoples and local communities on IP and traditional knowledge.
External resources
- Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues
- Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
- Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
- Indigenous Peoples' Center for Documentation, Research and Information (doCip) – for technical assistance during the IGC
- WIPO and the protection of traditional knowledge & culture (Solid Arts video by the Arts Law Center of Australia)