In these issues papers, individual authors are invited to examine a subject of importance in the developing international intellectual property regime and highlight the key issues they see arising. The topics have been chosen following consultations with negotiators from developing countries and respond to their concerns. Our aim is to contribute to a greater understanding of the impact of changes in this area upon people’s lives and better inform debate and negotiations. 

This report was presented by Amnesty International, la Fédération Internationale des Ligues des Droits de l’Homme (FIDH), the Netherlands Centre for Indigenous Peoples (NCIV), Friends World Committee for Consultation (Quakers), and Rights and Democracy. These organizations organized a Forum at the 61st session of the UN Commission on Human Rights, at which several discussants raised issues for consideration. This report is a compilation of voices at the panel, which included including Louise Arbour, then UN High Commissioner for Human Rights; Rodolfo  Stavenhagen, U.N Special Rapporteur on the situation of the human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people, Willie Littlechild, Rapporteur of the U.N. Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues; Dalee Sambo Dorough of the Inuit Circumpolar Conference; Mililani Trask, a native Hawaiian attorney with an NGO called Na Koa Ikaika O Ka Lahui.

References to Conscientious Objection in the documents submitted to, and resolutions of, the 61st session of the UN Commission on Human Rights, March to April 2005.

References to Women in Prison and Children of Imprisoned Mothers in the documents submitted to, and resolutions of, the 61st session of the UN Commission on Human Rights, March-April 2005.

This paper critically analyses the increasing level of international intellectual property standards, the lack of economic analysis of such higher standards, the undemocratic and ideological international standard-setting processes, and the lack of coordination within and among developing countries on intellectual property matters. It argues that the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) should not be the only UN agency to deal with intellectual property.

To meet the challenges the paper analyses, it suggests implementing a development agenda for WIPO and taking deliberate steps to position other UN agencies to provide substantive contributions to global policies on innovation, development and intellectual property.

In these issues papers, the author examines a subject of importance in the developing international intellectual property regime and highlights the key issues arising. The topics have been chosen following consultations with negotiators from developing countries and respond to their concerns. The papers arise out of collaborative work between the Quaker International Affairs Programme in Ottawa and the Quaker United Nations Office in Geneva. Our aim is to contribute to a greater understanding of the impact of changes in this area upon people’s lives and better inform debate and negotiations.

This is QUNO's initial publication on the question of women in prison, and their children. It is detailed, and as a preliminary research paper, it deals with a wide range of issues. It first provides an overview of and statistics concerning women in prison as a whole. It then looks at different groups of women – indigenous women, foreign nationals, transgender prisoners - and how they are affected by imprisonment. The paper then looks at mothers in prison and their children – whether imprisoned with or separated from their mothers. Perspectives on  healthcare for women in prison are offered. Finally, there is a section on abuse, inappropriate procedures and torture that women in prison may face.

An oral statement by Friends World Committee for Consultation (Quakers), to the 60th session of the UN Commission on Human Rights. It highlights the importance of understanding the reasons for which young people volunteer for armed forces and armed groups, citing the importance of such understanding for demobilisation and long-term re-integration efforts.

See also:

• a written statement submitted to the 60th session of the UN Commission on Human Rights,
• This paper presented at a conference of the Spanish Red Cross, and
• The report Young Soldiers: Why they choose to fight.

Focuses on the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Chile and the United States of America (U.S.). The paper deals with broad aspects of trade, including general provisions establishing a free trade zone between the two countries, settlement of disputes, market access, services, investment, telecommunications and intellectual property (IP).

Its purpose is to contribute to a better understanding of TRIPs-plus issues, the specific contents of the FTA and the lessons that could be drawn from the negotiations between the most powerful and technologically advanced country in the world – with clear stakes in IPRs – and a small and dynamic developing country that has one of the most open and liberal economies of the Americas.