The 46th Session of the Administrative Council of the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) was hosted by the Government of the Republic of Mozambique from 21 to 25 November 2022.
Director General, Bemanya Twebaze, has called on member states to double efforts to ensure that intellectual property be used to address challenges that include access to medicines, food security, employment creation, and climate change.
The appeal comes as a result of low ratification and domestication of some of the ARIPO protocols, among the member states. A majority of these protocols have yet to be ratified and domesticated by the member states, which creates obstacles for harmonisation and development of IP laws. In addition to this, it affects services for the co-ordination and development of IP activities.
Mr Daren Tang (Director General of WIPO), invited as a guest of honour, emphasized in his opening address the importance of coming together to transform IP into a powerful driver of jobs, growth and opportunity so that no-one is left behind. He also pledged to building on the existing foundations in the relationship between WIPO and ARIPO.
Discussions on the proposals to amend some of the Protocols in order to make them more user-friendly and align them to relevant international treaties and best practices were also held. More importantly, the draft Regulations for the implementation of the newly adopted Kampala Protocol on Voluntary Registration of Copyright and Related Rights was deliberated on.
