Statement of India on behalf of the Asia-Pacific Group Statement on Agenda Item 18 – Report on the Advisory Committee on Enforcement, delivered by Dr. Sumit Seth during WIPO GA 2016

Thank you Mr. Chairman

India has the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the

The Advisory Committee on Enforcement has the mandate to carry out technical assistance and coordination in the field of IP enforcement. Asia and the Pacific group expects that the technical assistance provided by WIPO on IP enforcement should be in accordance with the spirit of the Development Agenda Recommendation number 45, which calls upon WIPO to address IP enforcement in the context of broader societal interests and especially development-oriented concerns.

Our group firmly believes that the protection and enforcement of IP rights should contribute to the promotion of technological innovation, at the same time we are of the view that it should also transfer and disseminate technology, to the mutual advantage of producers and users in a manner conducive to social and economic welfare, and a balance of rights and obligations.

Therefore, it becomes important that WIPO approaches the issue of enforcement of intellectual property rights in a more holistic manner to ensure that the means to enforce intellectual property rights are in line with the objectives of Article 7 of the TRIPS Agreement, as stated in recommendation 45 of the WIPO Development Agenda.