The SWAKOPMUND protocol on the Protection of Traditional
Knowledge and Expressions of Folklore was adopted at the Diplomatic Conference
held in Swakopmund, Namibia on 9th August 2010 where as member states of the African
Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) were urged to urgently take
steps to ratify and accede the protocol in view of the economic benefit for
Africa.
The sixth country (Republic of Zimbabwe) on 11th February 2015
after Botswana, Gambia, Namibia, Rwanda, and Malawi as required ratified the
said protocol as a result, the protocol will come in to force on 11th May 2015.
By ratifying/acceding and domesticating the protocol, it will
amoung others enable countries to have databases of Traditional Knowledge and
Expressions of Folklore, ease of access of international databases of works and
it will enable the knowledge holders and the community to have a benefit
sharing process, enjoy the trans border use of their works and enjoy other
dispute resolutions at the Africa Regional Intellectual Property (ARIPO).
I urge countries to ratify and domesticate the protocol for our
knowledge holders, community and countries benefit.