Statement, 3-5 November 2014
South Centre Statement at 2nd UN Conference on LLDCs
The attached is a Statement by the South Centre at Second UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries. (more…)
Issues
SouthViews No. 114, 10 November 2014
Comment on IPCC’s Final Climate Report
By Martin Khor
The IPCC’s final report, known as the Synthesis Report, indicates the world is doomed if present climate and emission trends continue, but the key solutions are as elusive as before. Imagine our world getting more and more polluted, and little space left for the Earth to absorb more pollutants before all kinds of disasters take place. And imagine that we have not yet found the solutions to really slow down the emissions or to prevent the catastrophe that lies ahead. This look into our scary future was evident at the recent meeting in Copenhagen to finalise the last climate change report of the IPCC (inter-governmental panel on climate change). (more…)
Research Paper 55, November 2014
Patent Protection for Plants: Legal Options for Developing Countries
The paper examines, first, the exclusion of patent protection for plants, including plant varieties, biological materials, and essentially biological processes for the production of plants. The legal implications of the right – recognized under the TRIPS Agreement – to exclude plants from patent protection are briefly discussed, as well as how the exclusion allowed by article 27.3(b) of said Agreement has been implemented at the national level and, particularly, whether it can be extended to parts and components of plants. (more…)
Statement, 13-17 October 2014
South Centre Statement on Coming into Force of Nagoya Protocol
The following is a Statement by the South Centre on the coming into force of the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization. (more…)
SouthViews No. 113, 14 October 2014
Malala got the Nobel peace prize; here’s why Nabila won’t
By Staff, Firstpost of India
Last week, the Nobel Peace Prize committee announced two winners: Pakistan’s Malala Yousafzai and India’s Kailash Satyarthi for their struggle for the rights of children. While for most Indians K Satyarthi’s name was a bit of a mystery, Malala was already a widely known international figure, her personal story documented on magazine covers around the world. The celebration of Malala in the West has long inspired conspiracy theorists who view her as a CIA stooge — and that she is now the youngest recipient for the Nobel Peace Prize is likely to prove more fodder for the same. But you don’t have to be paranoid to ask the question raised by Murtaza Hussain in Al-Jazeera: What about Nabila Rehman? (more…)
IP Negotiations Monitor 11, September 2014
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: July 2014 – September 2014) (more…)
SouthViews No. 112, 18 September 2014
A Preview of the UN Climate Summit
By Meena Raman
As the United Nations hosts a Climate Summit Sep. 23, the lingering question is whether the meeting of world leaders will wind up as another talk fest. It is most likely that it could go that way. The problem is that developed countries are pressuring developing countries to indicate their pledges for emissions reductions post-2020 under the Paris deal which is currently under negotiation, without any indication of whether they will provide any finance or enable technology transfer – which are current commitments under the Convention. (more…)
SouthViews No. 111, 17 September 2014
Battle Hots Up to Curb ‘Vulture Funds’
By Martin Khor
Many countries are facing a worsening debt situation, and thus feel the urgency to curb ‘vulture funds’ and to set up a global debt restructuring mechanism. External debt is rearing its ugly head again. With the global economic slowdown, lower commodity prices and less tourism, many developing countries are facing reduced export earnings and foreign reserves. No country would like to have to seek the help of the International Monetary Fund to avoid default. That could lead to years of austerity, high unemployment, cuts in social development and at the end of it, still no light at the end of the tunnel. (more…)
Research Paper 54, September 2014
Innovative Financing Mechanisms: Potential Sources of Financing the WHO Tobacco Convention
- Introduction and Objectives
This research paper is produced as part of a research being conducted by the South Centre on expanding fiscal policies for global and national tobacco control. The objective of this research is to identify innovative solutions to fill the funding gaps in the implementation of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). (more…)
Research Paper 53, September 2014
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…)
Research Paper 52, August 2014
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…)
Policy Brief 16, September 2014
Resolving Debt Crises: How a Debt Resolution Mechanism Would Work
The issue of foreign debt has made a major comeback. This is due to the crisis in Europe, in which many countries had to seek big bailouts to keep them from defaulting on their loan payments.
Before this, debt crises have been associated with African and Latin American countries. In 1997-99, three East Asian countries also joined the indebted countries’ club. (more…)