EALA has today passed a Resolution in support of the extension of the Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Agreement for Least Developed Countries (LDCs). The Resolution comes a few days to the TRIPS General Assembly scheduled for Geneva, Switzerland, June 10-11, 2013 to review the transition date affecting the LDCs.
Four of the five EAC Partner States are still LDCs with a critical need to utilize policy space under the World Trade Organisation TRIPS Agreement for the welfare of the citizens.
Article 66.1 of the TRIPS Agreement accorded LDCs a ten year exemption from most obligations under the TRIPS Agreement in view of special needs and requirements for LDCs, their economic, financial and administrative constraints and their need for flexibility to create a viable technological base.
According to the Resolution, EALA is concerned that the region faces many constraints and are yet to be ready to promote health and public nutrition and to promote public interest in sectors of vital importance to socio-economic and technological development.
The Resolution moved by Hon Dora Byamukama received support on the floor of the House.
The Resolution inter alia calls for support on the request made by Haiti on behalf of the LDCs that are WTO Member States for extension of the transitional period. The Resolution also wants the EAC to retain the policy space if they are to develop their technological base so that intellectual property protections might be helpful rather than harmful to development processes. The Resolution which was also supported by Hon Nancy Abisai and Hon Dan Kidega, received overwhelming support on the floor of the House.
According to a number of Civil Society Organisations in East Africa under the aegis of SEATINI-Uganda, the LDC Members of the WTO represent the poorest and weakest segment of the international community. The economies of least developed country Members are extremely vulnerable, with large segments of their population living in poverty.
They also face numerous challenges such as high burdens of infectious and non-infectious disease, low literacy, inadequate access to clean water and sanitation, low agricultural productivity, environmental and climate-related challenges.
A signed dispatch from 18 Organisations expressed concern over the unjust manner in which discussions for grant of extension are being handled by the TRIPS Council of Ministers and the developed countries which include Canada, Switzerland, Australia, New Zealand and Japan.
It should be noted that East Africa remains the home to at least four developed countries: Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania and Uganda, the Statement adds. According to the World Development indicators and Human Development Index, 73% of the region’s population are living in multi-dimensional poverty in 2001. The report further says that 44% are living below nationally-defined poverty lines.
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For more Information, contact: Bobi Odiko, Senior Public Relations Officer; East African Legislative Assembly; Tel: +255-27-2508240 Cell: +255 787 870945, +254-733-718036; Email: bodiko@eachq.org Web: https://www.eala.org Arusha, Tanzania
