QNA
Geneva
Qatar participated in the 65th Series of Meetings of the Assemblies of the Member States of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), held in Geneva from July 9 to 17. The delegation was led by HE Dr Hind bint Abdulrahman Al Muftah, Permanent Representative of Qatar to the United Nations Office and other international organisations in Geneva.
Delivering Qatar’s statement before the WIPOs inaugural session, Dr Al Muftah highlighted the strengthening cooperation between Qatar and WIPO in various intellectual property areas, thanking the WIPO General-Directorate for advancing this partnership, especially in higher education, entrepreneurship, and alternative dispute resolution.
She emphasised Qatar’s recent efforts to join several international WIPO conventions and announced that Qatar’s accession to the Madrid Protocol for the International Registration of Marks would take effect on August 3, 2024. She also mentioned ongoing efforts to align national measures with the requirements of this accession.
Dr Al Muftah reaffirmed Qatar’s commitment to modernising its legislative framework for intellectual property protection. She congratulated the success of the Diplomatic Conference on Genetic Resources and Associated Traditional Knowledge and highlighted its importance in promoting transparency in the patent system and ensuring equitable benefit-sharing, particularly with indigenous peoples and local communities.
She also expressed Qatar’s support for the ongoing negotiations in various WIPO committees and looked forward to constructive cooperation with member states to ensure the success of the upcoming Diplomatic Conference to Conclude and Adopt a Design Law Treaty, scheduled to be held in Saudi Arabia from November 11 to 22, 2024. Furthermore, she emphasised Qatar’s support for the Arab Group’s proposals to incorporate the Arabic language into all WIPO’s works and systems. Qatar’s delegation actively participated in the meetings of the Assemblies of the Member States of WIPO.
WIPO, one of the oldest specialised agencies in the UN system and one of the largest international organizations in Geneva, serves as the global forum for intellectual property (IP) services, policy, information, and cooperation.
It has 193 member states and aims to develop a balanced and effective international IP system that encourages innovation and creativity for the benefit of all. The organisation was established through the signing of the WIPO Convention in Stockholm on July 14, 1967, and came into force in 1970. The State of Qatar joined WIPO in 1976.
