11. The Commonwealth
Background
The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of independent sovereign states including both developed and developing States. It comprises 53 members including New Zealand with 16 associated states including Cook Islands, Niue and Tokelau. Once part of Great Britain, but now independent, Commonwealth States are bound by a common history and still have shared interests and bonds. Today it helps to advance democracy, human rights and sustainable economic and social development within its Member States and beyond.
Commonwealth Secretariat
The Commonwealth Secretariat is the main body and the executive arm of the Commonwealth. It was established in 1965 to facilitate consultation and co-operation among Member States. Its work encompasses a whole range of Commonwealth activities, including overseeing the activities of the various subsidiary bodies covering issues such as health, human rights and science. The Commonwealth Secretariat is also responsible for organising Commonwealth Heads of Government Meetings (CHOGM) and executive development programmes.
Consideration of Traditional Knowledge
At its meeting of Commonwealth Law Ministers held in November 2001, the Commonwealth Secretariat considered the relationship between The World Trade Organisation Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property (TRIPS) (see fact sheet 6) and the protection of traditional knowledge.
Ministers discussed the development of the Regional Framework for the Protection of Traditional Knowledge and Expressions of Culture and the Regional Model Law for the protection of Traditional Ecological Knowledge (see fact sheet 13). Ministers also invited the World Intellectual Property Organisation (see fact sheet 5) to consider the need to have international recognition and protection of traditional knowledge and related rights.
Future Work
At the meeting of Commonwealth Law Ministers held in November 2001, Ministers shared the view that the wider subject of intellectual property in the international arena was one which could very usefully be addressed in their future work. The next meeting of Commonwealth Law Ministers is set to take place in October 2005, in Ghana.
New Zealand Position
New Zealand supports the work of the Commonwealth.
The Ministry of Economic Development would like to acknowledge that Commonwealth website for the information. For more information on the Commonwealth Secretariat please visit their website at Commonwealth - Home .
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