Regional Pooled Procurement of Medicines in the East African Community
This paper explores the current discussions in the East African Community (EAC) with regard to the establishment of a regional pooled procurement mechanism for essential medicines. (more…)
Tackling the Proliferation of Patents: How to Avoid Undue Limitations to Competition and the Public Domain
The steady increase in patent applications and grants that is taking place in developed and some developing countries (notably in China) is sometimes hailed as evidence of the strength of global innovation and of the role of the patent system in encouraging it. However, such an increase does not correspond to a genuine augmentation in innovation. (more…)
This is a special issue of the South Bulletin. It provides many reports on the celebrations held by the Group of 77 and China to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Group’s founding in 1964. (more…)
The IP Negotiations Monitor summarizes the latest developments in multilateral and regional fora where intellectual property negotiations are taking place, and informs on upcoming meetings and events.
(Covering period: February 2014 – June 2014) (more…)
Workshops for patent examiners of the Indian Patent Office in Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata and New Delhi
Prof. Carlos Correa and Dr. German Velasquez from the South Centre visited the IP offices of Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata and New Delhi to conduct four workshops with patent examiners from the four patent offices in India on examination of pharmaceutical patent applications from a public health perspective. (more…)
Obstacles to Development in the Global Economic System
I. Obstacles to Development Arising from the International System
As the international community wades into the political discussions regarding the alternatives to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) after 2015 and the design of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as mandated by the Rio+20 conference, it is timely to consider the question of whether development is a matter mostly of individual effort on the part of nation-states or whether there are elements in the international economic system that could serve as significant obstacles to national development efforts. (more…)
Major issues on world economy and WTO, FTAs, IPRs debated at South Centre Conference
This issue of South Bulletin focuses on the South Conference on the global economy and the state of multilateral negotiations. The conference addressed major issues on the world economy, trade, intellectual property, climate change and sustainable development. (more…)
The G77 Extraordinary Summit of heads of states and governments of the G77 and China countries was held in Santa Cruz, Brazil, on 14-15 June 2014, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Group of 77 in 1964. One of the main outcomes of the Summit was a Declaration which was adopted by the Summit at its plenary session on 14 June. (more…)
Integrating a Gender Perspective in Climate Change, Development Policy and the UNFCCC
This policy brief discusses the opportunities, challenges and constraints for integrating a gender perspective into global climate change policy as well as the current effort of gender mainstreaming in the UNFCCC. The brief is a companion piece to a previous note that explored the nature, content and implications of the Gender Decision made at COP 18, Doha, 2012. (more…)
G77 on Food and Agriculture: Subsidies of Rich Countries and Commodity Speculation Must Be Curbed
The G77 and China made a statement on SDGs and food security and sustainable agriculture as well as health, stressing the need for developed countries to cut rich countries’ agriculture subsidies and for curbing speculation in commodity markets that result in price volatility. Many developing countries that were self sufficient in or exporters of food now depend on imports. Below are excerpts of the statement presented by Ambassador Peter Thomson of Fiji, Chair of the G77 and China, on behalf of the Group, at the third session of the UN working group on SDGs, on 22 May 2013.
Hacer efectivo el mecanismo financiero de la CMNUCC.
Las Partes en la Convención Marco de las Naciones Unidas sobre el Cambio Climático (CMNUCC) han reconocido la necesidad de “mejorar urgentemente la aplicación de la Convención para lograr su objetivo fundamental de plena conformidad con sus principios y compromisos” (Preámbulo del Plan de Acción de Bali). (more…)