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IGC Preparation Kit (IGC 33)

The WIPO Intergovernmental Committee on Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore (IGC) meets several times a year in Geneva.

This page provides the most relevant documents and materials to help participants prepare for the next session – including for consultations with indigenous peoples, local communities and other stakeholders.

The thirty-third session of the IGC (February 27 to March 3, 2017) will address the theme of traditional cultural expressions.

Working documents

The working documents for the 33rd session of the IGC are:

Key background materials

  • IGC Mandate 2016/2017 PDF, Mandate of the IGC
  • Background brief No. 1: Traditional Knowledge and Intellectual Property PDF, Background brief on Traditional Knowledge and Intellectual Property
  • Background brief No. 2: The WIPO IGC PDF, Background brief on the IGC
  • Background brief No. 3: Developing a National Strategy on IP and TK, TCEs and GRs PDF, Background brief on develoment of national strategy on IP, TK, TCEs and GRs
  • Background brief No. 4: Intellectual Property and Arts Festivals PDF, Background brief on Intellectual Property and Arts Festivals
  • Background brief No. 5: Intellectual Property and Traditional Handicrafts PDF, Background brief on Intellectual Property and Traditional Handicrafts
  • Background brief No. 7: Customary Law and Traditional Knowledge PDF, Background brief on Customary Law and Traditional Knowledge
  • Background brief No. 8: Alternative Dispute Resolution for Disputes Related to Intellectual Property and Traditional Knowledge, Traditional Cultural Expressions and Genetic Resources PDF, Alternative Dispute Resolution for Disputes Related to Intellectual Property and Traditional Knowledge, Traditional Cultural Expressions and Genetic Resources
  • Background brief No. 9: Documentation of Traditional Knowledge and Traditional Cultural Expressions PDF, Background brief on documentation of traditional knowledge and traditional cultural expressions

Informal information session

At preparatory informal information sessions, the WIPO secretariat provides member states' representatives in Geneva with information on the key issues under discussion at each upcoming IGC session, as well as on practical arrangements.

The informal information session for IGC 33 took place at WIPO Headquarters (Room NB 0.107) on February 15, 2017, at 10:00 a.m.

  • Presentation slides PDF, IGC 33 Presentation Slides

VIDEO: February 15, 2017 informal information session.

Preparation kits of previous IGC sessions