Global Civil Society Letter to Roberto Azevêdo on Yemen’s Accession Commitments on IP
Mr. Roberto Carvalho de Azevêdo,
Director General
World Trade Organization
cc: H.E. Mr. Shahid BASHIR,
Chairperson,
General Council of the WTO
Dear Mr. Azevêdo,
The undersigned organizations are writing to express concerns regarding intellectual property commitments being forced on Yemen as part of its WTO accession package that will be presented for formal adoption, to the 9th WTO Ministerial Conference in Bali, 3-6 December 2013.
We understand that as part of its accession terms Yemen is required to fully implement the WTO-Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) by 31 December 2016. This contradicts Paragraph 18 of the 2012 Accession Guidelines which explicitly reaffirms “that the Special and Differential Treatment, as set out in the Multilateral Trade Agreements, Ministerial Decisions, and other relevant WTO legal instruments, shall be applicable to all acceding LDCs from the date of entry into force of their respective Protocols of Accession”.[1]
Thus paragraph 18 of the 2012 Accession Guidelines automatically entitles acceding LDCs to transition periods granted pursuant to Article 66.1 of the TRIPS Agreement.[2] Article 66.1, is one of the most important Special and Differential provisions contained in the TRIPS Agreement, as it grants LDCs the flexibility they need to overcome their socio-economic constraints and to develop a viable technological base.
On 11 June 2013, the TRIPS Council adopted a decision pursuant to Article 66.1 of the Agreement, to extend the LDC TRIPS transition period until 1 July 2021. According to this Decision, LDCs “shall not be required to apply the provisions of the Agreement, other than Articles 3, 4 and 5, until 1 July 2021”. The Decision also allows further extensions beyond 1 July 2021.
The Decision also expressly recognizes the right of WTO LDC Members to make full use of the flexibilities provided by the TRIPS Agreement to address their needs. This includes the option of rolling back/undoing TRIPS consistent intellectual property (IP) protections.
Requiring Yemen to be TRIPS compliant by the end of 2016 is a violation of the 2012 Accession Guidelines that were adopted by the WTO General Council and that recognized the entitlement of acceding countries to Special and Differential Treatment provisions that underpin the WTO architecture.
For countries to benefit from full TRIPS compliance certain basic socio-economic conditions should exist in particular a significant market, sufficient capital, qualified and skilled personnel at the firm level, innovation-oriented entrepreneurs, as well as a solid scientific and technological base. As an LDC, these conditions obviously do not exist in Yemen.
Yemen is one of the poorest countries in the Arab region, with very slow progress towards attaining the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) with 32% of the population living in severe poverty. It has extremely weak infrastructure[3], and underdeveloped scientific and innovative capacities. Yemen faces massive challenges in ensuring its population has access to education, health and other basic services.[4] The economy is also caught in a jobless slow growth cycle leading to stagnant per capita incomes and rising levels of unemployment. Moreover, Yemen is facing a humanitarian crisis with widespread hunger, chronic malnutrition and health problems as the country emerges from a period of civil unrest.
Given this situation, it is unconscionable for the WTO to require Yemen to fully implement the TRIPS Agreement by 2016. It is also damaging to WTO’s credibility that it is failing to abide by its own rules, in particular paragraph 18 of the 2012 Accession Guidelines.
Thus we urge you to take immediate measures to rectify the situation by issuing a statement confirming that the TRIPS Council Decision adopted on 11 June 2013 is applicable to Yemen and it is under no obligation to implement the TRIPS Agreement until 1 July 2021 or later if a further extension is granted pursuant to Article 66.1 of the TRIPS Agreement.
We also urge you to ensure that all LDC countries that are in the process of acceding to the WTO are accorded transition periods consistent with TRIPS Council decisions concerning Article 66.1.
In conclusion we stress that any attempt to weaken or to refuse LDCs rights that they are entitled to will damage the credibility of the WTO and will show that the multilateral trading system does not work in the interests of the poorest and most vulnerable populations of the international community. Even worse, such a condition will confine Yemen to technological underdevelopment and to potential overpayment for IP-protected commodities for years to come thereby imposing unnecessary hardship and human rights deprivations on some of the poorest people in the world.
SIGNATORIES
Organizations | Country |
1. Khadejh Organization | Yemen |
2. Al yuser Association in Hosn | Yemen |
3. Yemeni Women Union | Yemen |
4. Charitable Society for Social Welfare | Yemen |
5. Amer&Okaba Association for Social Development | Yemen |
6. Saleh Foundation for Social Development | Yemen |
7. Democratic Support Foundation | Yemen |
8. General Federation of Trade Unions of Yemen | Yemen |
9. The Fishery Cooperative Union | Yemen |
10. Soul for Development | Yemen |
11. Altahadi Foundation for Caring & Of Disabled Females | Yemen |
12. Women Center for Culture Development & Anti- Violence | Yemen |
13. Yemeni Family Care Association | Yemen |
14. Gender Development Research & Studies Center | Yemen |
15. ACU Agriculture Cooperation Union | Yemen |
16. Wejdan Feminist Association | Yemen |
17. Almustkbal Feminist Social Association for Development | Yemen |
18. Life Makers Foundation- Yemen | Yemen |
19. Hail Saeed Charity Society | Yemen |
20. Alshahl Feminist Association | Yemen |
21. Charity Association in Alghorfah Area | Yemen |
22. Feminist Charity Association for Combating Poverty | Yemen |
23. Zohor Charity Association | Yemen |
24. Women Development Center | Yemen |
25. Association of Women and Child Development | Yemen |
26. Alharth Social Association for Charity | Yemen |
27. Salami Cooperative Association | Yemen |
28. Feminist Union for the Rehabilitation and Training of Women | Yemen |
29. Etqan Charitable Association | Yemen |
30. Athar Foundation for Development | Yemen |
31. All Girls Foundation for Development | Yemen |
32. Al- Ferdous Women Development Society | Yemen |
33. Waed | Yemen |
34. The Aeen Youth Third Initiative for Social Development | Yemen |
35. Dar Al- Salam Organization Peace House in Yemen | Yemen |
36. Namai Forum for Media Development | Yemen |
37. Family Association for Development | Yemen |
38. Anzaz Association | Yemen |
39. Alzarebi Feminist Association | Yemen |
40. Zabid Feminist Charity Association | Yemen |
41. Dialogue Center for Human Rights Culture Development | Yemen |
42. Tadhamon ASS.CH. for Development Society | Yemen |
43. BaniAlkrebi Association for Social Development | Yemen
|
44. Aldhameer Society For Social Development | Yemen |
45. Almethaq Development Social Association | Yemen |
46. AjyalMarib Social Development | Yemen |
47. Environment& Social Development Association | Yemen |
48. Yemen Association of Persons with Disabilities double | Yemen |
49. Wed for Women Development | Yemen |
50. Yemeni Association For Women Development Support | Yemen |
51. Alethar Women Association | Yemen |
52. Sam Women Association | Yemen |
53. Al- Takamol Association for Development | Yemen |
54. Al- Ahad Feminist Social Charity Association | Yemen |
55. The Economic and Social Development Researches Center | Yemen |
56. Women's Association for the Economic Savings and lending | Yemen |
57. Al- Tarabot Association for Women Development | Yemen |
58. Al- Irtiqa Association for Rehabilitation and Development | Yemen |
59. Al-Ghorabi Association for Social Development | Yemen |
60. Charity Association for Social Care of Poor Families | Yemen |
61. The Society of Caring and Qualifying the Deaf | Yemen |
62. Ibn Al-Haytham CharityAssociation | Yemen |
63. BeitHanthal Charity Association | Yemen |
64. Al-Mihraq Association for Solidarity and Development | Yemen |
65. Life Makers Foundation | Yemen |
66. Altheqa Association for Rehabilitation of People with Special Needs | Yemen |
67. Zahra Feminist Association | Yemen |
68. Forum of Cultural and Creative Youth | Yemen |
69. Yemen Association for Consumer Protection | Yemen |
70. Human Rights Information and Training Center (HRITC) | Yemen |
71. Act Up-Basel | Switzerland |
72. Act Up-Paris | France |
73. African Forum and Network on Debt and Development (AFRODAD) | Zimbabwe |
74. AFARD | Guinea Bissau |
75. Africaine de Recherche et de Cooperation pour l’Appui au Developpement Endogene (ARCADE) | Senegal |
76. African Forum and Network on Debt and Development (AFRODAD) | Zimbabwe |
77. Alternative Espaces Citoyens |
Niger |
78. ALCS (Association de lutte contre le sida) | Morocco |
79. Appui au Développement Intégral et à la Solidarité sur les Collines (ADISCO) | Burundi |
80. Arab NGO Network for Development | Lebanon. Represents 7 networks and 23 individual organizations in the Arab region. |
81. Association pour le Bien Etre Familial et le Developpement Durable (ABEFDD) | Mauritania |
82. Attac France | France |
83. Bahrain Transparency Society | Bahrain |
84. Bharatiya Krishak Samaj | India |
85. Both ENDS | The Netherlands |
86. Campaign For Good Governance (SUPRO) | Bangladesh |
87. Centre Amadou Hampâté Bâ (CAHBA) | Mali |
88. Centre du Commerce International pour le Developpement (CECIDE) | Guinea |
89. CNJORD/AFDE | Chad |
90. Coalition for Health Promotion and Social Development (HEPS Uganda) | Uganda |
91. Comisión Internacional Attac | Spain |
92. Community Empowerment for Progress Organization-CEPO | South Sudan-Juba |
93. Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) | South Africa |
94. Consumer Unity & Trust Society (CUTS) | Zambia |
95. Development Services Exchange (DSE) | Solomon Islands |
96. Dharti Development Foundation Sindh | Pakistan |
97. Dignity International | Malaysia |
98. East African Health Platform (EAHP) | Tanzania |
99. Econews Africa |
|
100. Economic Justice Coalition | Mozambique |
101. Ecuador Decide | Ecuador |
102. El Grupo Por Una Agricultura Alternativa Y De Alerta De La Transgenesis (AGALAT) | Panama |
103. Environmental Development Action in the Third World (ENDA) | Ethiopia |
104. Eritrean Movement for Democracy and Human Rights (EMDHR) |
Eritrea |
105. EDGE | Sudan |
106. Federation of Democratic Labour Unions | Mauritius |
107. Fédération des ONG au Togo | Togo |
108. Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE) Comoros | Comoros |
109. Foundation for Human Rights and Democracy | Liberia |
110. Global Compliance Research Project | Canada |
111. Governance Links | Tanzania |
112. Greener Ethiopia | Ethiopia |
113. Groupe d'Action de Paix et de Formation pour la Transformation (GAPAFOT) | Central African Republic |
114. Groupe de Recherche et d'Action pour la Promotion de l'Agriculture et du Developement (GRAPAD) | Benin |
115. Grupo Tacuba | Mexico |
116. Health GAP | USA |
117. Hind Mazdoor Sabha | India |
118. Huam Jai Asasamak | Lao People's Democratic Republic |
119. Institute for Global Justice (IGJ) | Indonesia |
120. International Grail Network on Justice in Trade Agreements | A coalition of groups working for peace and justice in 20 countries worldwide |
121. International Treatment Preparedness Coalition Middle Eastern & North Africa (ITPC-MENA) | Middle Eastern & North Africa |
122. Kiribati Association of NGOs – KANGO | Kiribati |
123. Knowledge Ecology International | USA |
124. LDC Watch | An alliance of regional and national civil society organizations and networks based in the LDCs |
125. Malawi Economic Justice Network | Malawi |
126. Marcha Mundial de las Mujeres Perú | Peru |
127. Mauritius Trade Union Congress | Mauritius |
128. Mesa de Coordinación Latinoamericana de Comercio Justo | Latin America (Regional Group) |
129. Migration and Sustainable Development Alliance | Mauritius |
130. Médecins Sans Frontières -Access Campaign | Medical Humanitarian Organization |
131. Myanmar Resource Foundation | Myanmar |
132. ÖBV-Via Campesina Austria | Austria |
133. Organisation Djiboutienne de Bienfaisance et de Développement (HODAGAD) | Djibouti |
134. Organisation pour le Renforcement des Capacities de Developpement (ORCADE) | Burkina Faso |
135. Oxfam International | International |
136. Pax Romana- ICMICA Asia | Asia (Regional Group) |
137. Peace and Conflict Studies Centre | Timor-Leste |
138. People's Health Movement | Iran |
139. Plateforme Haitienne de Plaidoyer pour un Developpement Alternatif (PAPDA) | Haiti |
140. Plate forme societe Civile Pour l’enfance | Madagascar |
141. Policy Analysis and Research Institute of Lesotho (PARIL) | Lesotho |
142. Promotion de la démocratie et des droits économiques et sociaux (PRODDES- RDCONGO) | Congo |
143. Réseau Dynamiques Africaines | Rwanda |
144. Roots for Equity | Pakistan |
145. Rural Reconstruction Nepal (RRN) | Nepal |
146. Samoa Umbrella of NGOs – SUNGO | Samoa |
147. Sanayee Development Organization | Afghanistan |
148. SILAKA | Cambodia |
149. Southern And East African Trade Institute (SEATINI) | South Africa, Uganda |
150. South Asia Alliance for Poverty Eradication (SAAPE) | Regional network of civil society organisations |
151. Somali Organisation for Community Development Activities (SOCDA) | Somalia |
152. S.O.S - Crianca E Desenvolvimento Integral De Angola | Angola |
153. Tanzania Gender Networking Programme (TGNP) | Tanzania |
154. The Center for Health, Human Rights and Development (CEHURD) | Uganda |
155. The Corner House | United Kingdom |
156. The Vanuatu Association of Non- Governmental Organisation (VANGO) | Vanuatu |
157. Third World Network | Malaysia |
158. Tuvalu Association of NGOs – TANGO | Tuvalu |
159. Unidad Ecológica Salvadoreña | El Salvador |
160. Youth Partnership for Peace and Development | Sierra Leone |
161. Vrijschrift | The Netherlands |
162. Worldview | The Gambia |
[1] WT/L/508/Add.1
[2] Article 66.1 of the TRIPS agreement states: “In view of the special needs and requirements of least-developed country Members, their economic, financial and administrative constraints, and their need for flexibility to create a viable technological base, such Members shall not be required to apply the provisions of this Agreement, other than Articles 3, 4 and 5, for a period of 10 years from the date of application as defined under paragraph 1 of Article 65. The Council for TRIPS shall, upon duly motivated request by a least-developed country Member, accord extensions of this period.”
[3] Electrification rate: 40% of the population (2009); 12 person out of 100 people have access to the worldwide network (2010); 50 out of 100 people have telephone lines and mobile subscribers
[4] Only 16% of the population has a secondary education.