新作坊

Protecting Traditional Knowledge: A framework based on Customary Laws and Bio-Cultural Heritage

摘要：

This paper is based on the work of IIED and research and indigenous partners in Peru, Panama, India, Kenya and China1. It is a collective contribution from the project “Protecting Community Rights over Traditional Knowledge: Implications of Customary Laws and Practices”2. Through participatory action-research the project is exploring the customary laws and practices of indigenous communities to inform the development of appropriate policies and mechanisms for the protection of traditional knowledge and bio-genetic resources at local, national and international level. We seek to shift the dominant paradigms of access and benefit-sharing (ABS) and intellectual property rights (IPRs), which reflect ‘western’ laws and models, towards one based on respect for indigenous customary laws and worldviews and human rights. In this way, we also seek to strengthen the institutional basis for endogenous development.