IGC 51 Summary

Traditional Knowledge and Folklore (IGC) concluded its 51st session on June 5, 2025.  It addressed traditional knowledge (TK) and traditional cultural expressions (TCEs), and took stock of the progress made over the 2024-2025 biennium and made recommendations to the WIPO General Assembly.

IGC 51 was co-chaired by Ms. Erika Watanabe Patriota of Brazil and Ms. Anna Vuopala of Finland, with Ms. Alhanoof Aldebasi of Saudi Arabia, and Ms. Audrey Akweley Yeboawaa Neequaye of Ghana as Vice-Chairs.

Plenary and informals on Agenda Item 5 (“Traditional Knowledge/Traditional Cultural Expressions”)

The IGC requested Mr. Paul Kuruk (African Union), Mr. Pablo Latorre (Chile) and Ms. Aurelia Schultz (United States of America) to act as “Facilitators”. Following the discussions at the plenary and informals, the Facilitators presented to the plenary a revision of “The Protection of Traditional Knowledge: Draft Articles - Facilitators’ Rev.” and a revision of “The Protection of Traditional Cultural Expressions: Draft Articles – Facilitators’ Rev.” on June 3. The IGC decided to transmit the revised texts to Agenda Item 6 (“Taking Stock of Progress and Making a Recommendation to the General Assembly”).

Plenary and informal consultations on Agenda Item 6 (“Taking Stock of Progress and Making a Recommendation to the General Assembly”)

On Agenda Item 6, plenary and informal consultations were convened to take stock of progress and discuss a recommendation to the General Assembly.  In addition to Member State representatives, the Indigenous Caucus was also represented in these informal consultations.  As an outcome, the IGC plenary agreed by consensus:

  • That the draft articles on traditional knowledge and traditional cultural expressions, contained in documents WIPO/GRTKF/IC/51/4 and WIPO/GRTKF/IC/51/5, be transmitted to the 2025 WIPO General Assembly;  and
  • To recommend to the 2025 WIPO General Assembly that the mandate of the Committee be renewed for the 2026-2027 biennium, and to recommend to the 2025 General Assembly the terms of the mandate and work program for 2026-2027.

The decisions and all the documents of the session are available online.

Indigenous Peoples and local communities’ participation

WIPO facilitated two preparatory meetings of the Indigenous Caucus (the meeting is referred to as the “Indigenous Consultative Forum”) on Thursday, May 29, and Sunday, June 1, in a hybrid format. Additionally, the Indigenous Caucus organized daily meetings during the session and met separately with the IGC Co-Chairs and Member State delegates. The WIPO Secretariat continued to fund secretarial services (secretariat, interpretation and translation) for Indigenous Peoples and local communities at the session, provided by the Documentation Centre for Indigenous Peoples (Docip).

With the WIPO Voluntary Fund empty, no Indigenous representatives were funded to attend IGC 51.

Indigenous panel

The Indigenous panel, which addressed “International Legal Instrument(s) on Traditional Knowledge and Traditional Cultural Expressions: Perspectives of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities” was held on Friday (May 30) morning.

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IP professionals, Lawyers and legal professionals, Traditional cultural expressions, Traditional knowledge

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