Recently three intersessional working groups met (See: http://www.wipo.int/tk/en/igc/ ) as experts (including from indigenous and local communities) provided critical input that contribute to the IGC’s new mandate to ‘undertake text-based negotiations with the objective of reaching an agreement on a text of an international legal instrument (or instruments) which will ensure the effective protection of GRs. TK and TCEs’- to be submitted to the WIPO General Assembly in September 2011. IUCN is an observer organization in the IGC and experts of IUCN’s Secretariat (Social Policy and Global Policy Unit) and also CEESP members have been attending the IGC.

From July 19-23, 2010 the First Intersessional Working Group of experts focused on ‘Traditional Cultural Expressions/Expressions of Folklore’ (TCEs/EoF) and established six informal open-ended drafting groups that produced streamlined text on draft articles related to TCEs/EoF. From February 21-25, 2011, the Second Intersessional Working Group of experts focused on Traditional Knowledge and met in plenary and in six open-ended informal drafting groups. They analysed key texts and positions of the IGC and suggested a more refined text and streamlined draft articles. See for example:‘Draft Articles on the Protection of Traditional Knowledge Prepared at IWG2’ and other texts in: http://www.wipo.int/meetings/en/details.jsp?meeting_id=22171

From February 28 to March 4, 2011, the Third Intersessional Working Group meeting of experts focused on Genetic Resources and discussed draft texts on objectives and principles and on options for future work.

IUCN participants providing expertise in the IWG (personal capacity) were Sonia Peña-Moreno Policy Officer of the Global Policy Unit (IWG 2 and 3) and anthropologist Elizabeth Reichel from CEESP (IWG 1 and 2).