We regret to inform that the South Centre event during the WTO Public Forum, Session 79, “The Future of the TRIPS Agreement: Part 2” on 29 September is cancelled. Session 120 “Mainstreaming Development in the WTO” on 30 September will be held as scheduled.
Over the years the South Centre has organized various events in the WTO Public Forum.
We have strongly supported the aim of the Public Forum to provide a platform for frank discussions among policy makers, civil society representatives, business people and researchers as they consider how to make trade work for more people and ensure that the trading system is as inclusive as it can be. The Public Forum in 2021 allowed in person and virtual participation of speakers and participants. This enabled many stakeholders from the Global South to engage, who otherwise would not have been able to do so.
Unfortunately this policy was not continued for the 2022 Public Forum.
We learnt at late notice that speakers were not allowed to join virtually and that our event would not be live-streamed.
No further explanations were provided, despite our repeated requests to the WTO Secretariat.
The WTO should be at the forefront of embracing use of telecommunications technology to open trade dialogue to all and reducing environmental impact of air travel.
This event will now be held as a South Centre webinar on 11 October at 10:00 am Geneva time.
Consultant – International ESS, Gender and Climate Expert Lebanon’s Green Climate Fund Readiness Project
Application should be sent in English at applications(at)southcentre.int (stating ‘ESS & Gender – Lebanon’ in the subject) no later than CET 24.00 hrs. on 13 April 2022.
Impact of a Minimum Tax Rate under the Pillar Two Solution on Small Island Developing States
Deadline: 15 March 2022
Pillar Two will end the race to the bottom in tax matters as allowed by the absence of a minimum global tax, likely affecting many financial services in some developing countries, removing the option for them to rely upon tax competition as an economic model. Hence, there is a need to understand how the Pillar Two rules are going to affect developing countries, particularly in small islands developing States where a large portion of their economies rely on tax-related financial services. It is necessary to consider development strategies aiming to deal with the potential disruptions and job losses posed by Pillar Two. These development strategies must provide pathways through which these countries can ensure employment opportunities to their people that require similar skill sets from some soon-to-be redundant segments of the financial industry. These can also highlight future financial sectors with potential where these countries can consider exploring/reorienting to benefit their economies.
Accordingly, this call for papers invites analysis on the effects of Pillar Two inSmall Island Developing States that are Member States of the G-77+China. The proposals can either provide generalized suggestions for a whole set of countries or provide customized advisory for individual countries.
This call invites established scholars, early career academics, PhD students and practitioners (policy makers, tax officials, lawyers) across multiple disciplines to submit abstracts.
Palabras de Germán Velásquez al recibir « LA ORDEN DEL CONGRESO DE COLOMBIA » otorgada por el Senado de la República
Cartagena de Indias, 26 de Enero del 2022
“EL TEMA CENTRAL DE MI LUCHA EN LOS ULTIMOS 15 AÑOS ES QUE UN MEDICAMENTO QUE PUEDE SALVAR UNA VIDA NO PUEDE SER EL OBJETO DE UN MONOPOLIO PROTEGIDO POR UNA PATENTE… ES POR ESO QUE YO PIENSO Y CREO QUE LAS VACUNAS Y TRATAMIENTOS PARA LA COVID 19 DEBEN SER CONSIDERADOS COMO UN BIEN PUBLICO COMUN.”
Call for Papers for LEAD Journal Special Issue 2022
PLANETARY HEALTH IN TIMES OF CONVERGING CRISES – CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
The Law, Environment and Development Journal (LEAD) Journal Special Issue 2022 will reflect on environmental issues in the context of the Stockholm Conference’s 50th anniversary and the COVID-19 crisis.
Local Consultant – Sectoral Policy Advisor for the Enhancement of the GCF Portfolio in Lebanon
Lebanon’s Green Climate Fund Readiness Project
Application should be sent in English at applications(at)southcentre.int (stating ‘Sectoral Policy Advisor – Lebanon, in the subject) no later than CET 24.00 hrs. on December 21, 2021.
Local Consultant – Private Sector Networking Officer
Lebanon’s Green Climate Fund Readiness Project
Application should be sent in English at applications(at)southcentre.int (stating ‘Private Sector – Lebanon in the subject) no later than CET 24.00 hrs. on 21 December 2021.
Application should be sent in English at applications(at)southcentre.int (stating ‘Research Officer – Lebanon in the subject) no later than CET 24.00 hrs. on 21 December 2021.
Application should be sent in English at applications(at)southcentre.int (stating ‘Climate Finance Expert – Lebanon’ in the subject) no later than CET 24.00 hrs. on 21 December 2021.
Call for Abstracts – 20 years of the Doha Declaration on TRIPS and Public Health
Deadline: 20 October 2021
The WTO Doha Declaration on the TRIPS Agreement and Public Health (‘Doha Declaration’) represented a groundbreaking moment in the history of intellectual property (IP) international policy, recognizing that Member States should not be prevented from taking measures to protect public health, reaffirming the right to use the so-called TRIPS flexibilities to that aim, such as compulsory licensing and parallel imports. The impact of IP protection on public health has continued to be at the forefront of debate to ensure equitable and affordable access to medicines and other medical products globally, and especially in the global South. The Covid-19 pandemic brought new challenges. Solutions are being discussed beyond use of TRIPS flexibilities, such as a temporary waiver to TRIPS during the pandemic.
At the 20th anniversary of the WTO Doha Declaration on TRIPS and Public Health, the South Centre opens a call for abstracts for new research in the field of IP and public health. The selected abstracts will be invited to write full papers, which will be presented at an international event in 2022 organized by the South Centre to commemorate such date and subsequent publication by the South Centre as open access. A small honorarium will also be offered for completed full papers that meet the South Centre standards of publication.
