Celebrating the 10th Anniversary of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

WIPO joins organizations around the world today in celebrating the tenth anniversary of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Since its adoption, the Declaration, and its Article 31 in particular, has resonated profoundly throughout WIPO’s program of work in support of Indigenous Peoples.

[Indigenous peoples] have the right to maintain, control, protect and develop their intellectual property over such cultural heritage, traditional knowledge, and traditional cultural expressions.

Article 31, United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

WIPO's work

WIPO’s program of work supports Indigenous Peoples through:

• Capacity building initiatives, such as Regional Practical Workshops on traditional knowledge and traditional cultural expressions;
• Publications, such as WIPO’s new publication "Protect and Promote Your Culture: A Practical Guide to Intellectual Property for Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities" ;
• The norm setting international negotiations taking place in the WIPO Intergovernmental Committee on Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore (the IGC) to ensure the effective protection of genetic resources, traditional knowledge and traditional cultural expressions; and
• The IGC’s Voluntary Fund to ensure indigenous participation in the IGC process.

Find out more

• Traditional Knowledge homepage
• WIPO Indigenous Portal
• Director General's message on International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, 2017
• United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples