This also requires a clear understanding of the priorities in terms of WIPO’s partnerships and engagement according to where it can have greatest positive impact on the key public policy issues. Key partners among the UN System of organizations will include, for example, the World Health Organization (WHO) on the interface between IP and public health; the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), and World Meteorological Organization (WMO) on issues relating to IP, technology and climate change; the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) on aspects of biodiversity which are relevant in particular for WIPO’s work in the area of traditional knowledge and genetic resources; the UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the UN Development Programme (UNDP), and the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) on issues relating to IP and development; the Internal Telecommunications Union (ITU) on addressing IP issues in the context of the information society; the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for the relationship between IP and culture; as well as the World Trade Organization (WTO) on a number of cross-cutting issues. WIPO must also look at leveraging these and wider networks and partnerships to support the Organization’s work through joint activities and resource mobilization (see also Strategic Goal III (Facilitating the Use of IP for Development) and VIII (A Responsive Communications Interface between WIPO, its Member States and all Stakeholders).
In recent years, major IP discussions have taken place outside WIPO and without its active participation. In order for WIPO to realize its full potential in addressing the interface between IP and global policy issues, it must ensure the trust of potential partners by providing significant contributions that not only move the debates forward in terms of better understanding of the issues, but also generate confidence as to the impartiality of its contributions.
STRATEGIES
The following strategies would guide WIPO’s approach in this area:
(i) WIPO facilitates and promotes a balanced, evidence-based perspective on IP and global public policy issues in accordance with the Development Agenda recommendations and the perspective of all Member States, to complement discussions involving IP and global public policy interface in other forums, in its capacity as the leading UN agency on IP issues.
(ii) Developing sound information tools on the basis of patent data in sectors of technology of public policy interest in a form that is useful for practical policy-makers (in collaboration with the work undertaken under Strategic Goal IV (Coordination and Development of Global IP Infrastructure) and Strategic Goal V (World Reference Source for IP Information and Analysis)). This would include patent landscaping and other information on the legal status of patents on environmental technologies, and information on practical ways of ensuring access to, and local development of, such technologies in developing countries.
(iii) Developing partnerships and collaborations for the use of IP and in mitigating barriers created by IP as a policy tool to achieve public welfare outcomes by promoting innovation, transfer and diffusion of key technologies to deal with global challenges such as climate change, food security, public health, etc, in line with the ongoing negotiations in specialized fora such as the UNFCCC, WHO and FAO.
(iv) Developing voluntary innovation structures for these purposes through such mechanisms as:
– collaborative innovation;
– more effective and responsible licensing schemes;
– product development partnerships;
– patent commons and pooling initiatives; and
– dispute resolution mechanisms designed to minimize interference with the intended
functioning of such structures.
A/48/3 page 53
Proposed amendments by DAG
(v) Building and maintaining confidence in the new Performance Management and Staff Development System (PMSDS) by ensuring that it is applied fairly, objectively and consistently across the Organization.
(vi) Improving service delivery and reducing transaction costs across the administration and management functions through streamlining and re-engineering the management and administrative processes and supporting them with a robust, integrated and state-of-the-art Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) System and clearly defined service level agreements (SLAs).
(vii) Reviewing and strengthening the procurement and travel policy, process and associated procedures, including the use of demand forecasting, better planning, the development of alternative sourcing strategies and the negotiation of framework agreements for commonly used goods and services.
(viii) Developing and implementing a comprehensive ICT strategy that tracks and exploits advances in information technology and responds to business needs.
(ix) Developing and mainstreaming environmentally friendly practices, including “green” procurement, that will help the Organization reduce its carbon footprint and move towards carbon neutrality.
(x) Identifying and implementing actions to move WIPO steadily towards an environment that is accessible to the physically, cognitively and visually impaired.
(xi) Elaborating a comprehensive language policy, developed in consultation with Member States, which responds to the needs of Member States and covers meeting documents, interpretation, publications and the WIPO website. It should address the language divide, aiming to use all the six official languages of the United Nations, including as working languages, on a fair and equitable basis and in a manner that is responsive to the needs of Member States. The policy will be implemented gradually over this Medium Term, to be carried out systematically towards its full and complete implementation by the end of 2015. This comprehensive language policy will cover WIPO documents, publications, interpretation, and all WIPO web sites. WIPO will review all its legal instruments and related procedures to reflect this comprehensive language policy.
(xii) Reviewing and streamlining the policies and procedures governing the production and distribution of meeting documents; streamlining the accreditation process of delegates and visitors at conferences, meetings and special events to enable WIPO to offer a more secure and user-friendly registration process for delegates and visitors.
(xiii) Reviewing and streamlining the policies and procedures governing records management and archiving services, including the introduction of electronic archiving and retrieval technology in order to facilitate access to the institutional memory of the Organization.
[End of document]
EQUATORIAL GUINEA
Republic of Equatorial Guinea
Permanent Mission to the United Nations and Other International Organizations in Geneva, Switzerland
MEDIUM TERM STRATEGIC PLAN FOR WIPO 2010-2015
OBSERVATIONS ON DOCUMENT A/48/3
DELEGATION OF EQUATORIAL GUINEA
The Delegation of Equatorial Guinea considers document A/48/3 to be valid and welcomes it given that it covers some points of vital importance, including:
1. WIPO’s commitment in the field of technology.
2. Commitment in the economic and legal field.
3. This document also highlights the importance of cooperation between WIPO and Member
States.
It is important to note, therefore, that the initiative presented in this document is in fact the embodiment of the proposal approved by the Member States in 2006, which legitimizes this initiative.
Recommendations
Equatorial Guinea underlines the need for the unanimous adoption of this Plan and stresses the importance of the action plan prepared and presented by the WIPO Secretariat. We would therefore like to see the implementation of this Strategic Plan, which has been presented to us, become a reality.
Lastly, we urge WIPO to continue to work towards its healthy goals set out in this strategic document, in which we place our trust.
Thank you very much.
SWEDEN
27 September 2010
Ministry of Enterprise, Energy and Communications Sweden
Written comments from Sweden concerning the WIPO Medium Term Strategic Plan as presented in document A/48/3.
The Swedish delegation thanks the Director General for his initiative regarding WIPO’s Medium Term Strategic Plan (MTSP). This plan provides WIPO with a robust framework empowering the secretariat by giving strategic direction in accordance with the already agreed strategic goals for the years ahead of us. It will also be an important and helpful guidance in the preparation of the programme and budget for the 2012-2103 and 2014-2015 biennia.
The MTSP is also an important tool in the implementation of a results oriented management. We welcome the identification of fixed indicators for each strategic objective, which will be a valuable help for the organisation and its member states (MS) to follow and evaluate progress in the realization of these objectives.
The strategic objectives, as expressed in the MTSP, emphasise the original mission of WIPO to be the world intellectual property organisation and it is important that the future activities of the organisation aim to fulfil this mission.
The MTSP expresses the flexibility necessary to allow the plan, the actions and the different initiatives to be adjusted in the ever changing, evolving economic, social and cultural environment of the world today, an environment strongly affecting the global IP system and the activities of WIPO.
We would like to compliment the secretariat for the extensive, transparent and dynamic consultation process with the member states during the development of the MTSP. We are aware that many different views have been expressed during the process and that the document is a result of the consultation. This of course means that not all views can be entirely reflected in the plan, including some of ours, but we would nevertheless want to express our full support for the plan as such and the vision it embodies.
SWITZERLAND
Comments from Switzerland on the Medium Term Strategic Plan for WIPO
• Switzerland supports the Medium Term Strategic Plan for WIPO 2010-2015 (hereinafter “the Plan”) as it is a strategic approach and commitment for our Organization for the coming years.
• Switzerland welcomed the inclusive consultation process launched by the Director General this year which enabled the initial project to move forward so that the many observations made in the consultations could be taken into account in a balanced manner. It is noteworthy that the compromise reached was widely backed at the last meeting of the Program and Budget Committee.
• The Medium Term Strategic Plan will be a useful guide in WIPO’s work in the coming years and will strengthen WIPO’s results-based management system without, however, being excessively rigid. It is expected that it will be able to continue evolving depending on future needs and developments.
Specific comments
• Switzerland attaches great importance to Strategic Goals I, II, III, IV and VII which are at the heart of WIPO activities.
• With reference to the comments in the Plan regarding the lack of progress in standard-setting activities in recent years, Switzerland underlines the importance of developing the international IP framework at WIPO in line with developments in the legal and technology fields. Switzerland, therefore, calls for particular attention to be paid and sufficient resources allocated to substantive units, especially those that will be dealing with patent, trademark and copyright issues in the coming years. This is so that the Secretariat can better support the work of the committees in order that concrete progress is finally made in important areas such as the harmonization of patent rights, the protection of country names and other issues linked to the use of distinctive signs on the Internet or the draft treaties on audiovisual and broadcasting organizations.
• Switzerland also continues to place great importance on global IP registration services. Effective and high quality means should be available to right holders to protect their intellectual property rights at the international level. These services are also crucial for the financial stability and growth of the Organization. Hence, they should continue to be among the most attractive in the future. Switzerland, therefore, supports the initiatives proposed in the Plan aimed at ensuring adequate investments to develop and extend the use of these services and encourages the participation of new Member States, especially for the Madrid and Hague systems. Switzerland is also committed to the reforms planned for the PCT to address the problem of the backlog of applications. As well as dealing with issues regarding the administrative burden that some offices face, it is also important to make the necessary investments in infrastructure by researching IT solutions such as databases and translation tools.
• On a similar note, Switzerland supports the Secretariat’s initiatives aimed at developing and improving WIPO’s global intellectual property infrastructure. This infrastructure is fundamental if the intellectual property system is to work properly. It can make the protection systems considerably easier for intellectual property offices, right holders and the general public everywhere to use. The development of global databases to improve access to information is a key aspect in order for the intellectual property systems to be more efficient and productive. Likewise, Switzerland would like to express its support for the on-going projects under the Madrid and Nice Unions.
• Switzerland underlines the increasing need for WIPO to develop activities aimed at facilitating the use of intellectual property for development. Switzerland supports WIPO’s work in this area and stresses the need to enhance synergies, coordination and continuity in the work undertaken. This is necessary to avoid the duplication of work and ensure the sustainability of work done on the ground, thus maximizing the use of available resources and their concrete results. The initiatives launched and mechanisms recently implemented (such as the results-based management project and the ERP project) are crucial, and they must be allocated sufficient resources to ensure that all the desired effects are brought about; added to this is the CDIP coordination and evaluation mechanism .
• With regard to global challenges, WIPO must position itself as the global reference point in the interface between public policy issues and intellectual property given WIPO’s role and specific expertise. Switzerland therefore supports the proposed strategies, particularly the development of partnerships with other international organizations and UN agencies – with respect to this, the conclusion of the partnership agreement with the FAO should be duly noted – governments, the academic world and industry.
• Finally, Switzerland attaches great importance to the internal reforms underway in the Organization as part of the Strategic Realignment Program and fully supports these in order to improve the quality and efficiency of the Secretariat’s work. The administrative support units should receive the necessary resources, both human and in terms of infrastructure (for example, the ERP project). Switzerland highlights the fact that it is important for WIPO to have highly qualified staff with the required expertise. As part of results-based management and for reasons of good governance, Switzerland points out the need for WIPO to set up an internal audit and supervision structure which is comprehensive and fully operational as soon as possible.
_________________________
SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC ON BEHALF OF THE ARAB GROUP
Proposal submitted by the Arab Group Member States of WIPO on the Medium Term Strategic Plan for WIPO 2010-2015
Add a new paragraph no.5 to Strategic Goal III “Facilitating the Use of IP for Development, in the Challenges and Opportunities section, page 21:
v-Overcoming the Language Divide. A large number of developing and least-developed Member States face a challenge in being able to comprehend, positively communicate and interact in the important discussions, deliberations and negotiations in all WIPO bodies, including important deliberations with legal implications, due to the language barrier of the unavailability of documents and publications in all of the official languages of the United Nations. This is also the case with regard to the benefit that these Member States can gain from WIPO’s publications and documents at the experts’ national level. As a result, this has a negative effect on the extent to which WIPO can benefit these Member States, and likewise, limits the ability of consensus building.
Add a new paragraph under Strategies (vi) of the above Goal III, page 22: