The International Indigenous Forum on Biodiversity (IIFB) asked for collaboration with the 8j Working Group and for ensuring full participation by indigenous people. 
Above photo: Jannie Lasimbang (IIFB)

Mexico, on behalf of the Like Minded Megadiverse Countries (LMMC) called for reaffirming the objectives of the CBD, and underscored sovereign rights of States over their natural and genetic resources.

El Salvador asked that access and fair and equitable sharing of benefits be included in the scope of the terms of reference.
Above photo: Jorge Ernesto Quezada Diaz (El Salvador)

Liberia stresses the need to include reference to balance user and provider measures in the Chair's text on an international ABS regime, and seeks clarification on the difference between code of ethics and code of conduct. Above photo: Ben Donnie (Liberia)

Haiti stressed the need to clarify whether the regime would build on , or be composed of, existing ABS-related instruments.
Above photo: Joseph Ronald Toussaint (Haiti)

Cuba called for emphasizing the inclusive nature of the regime, beyond national and regional perspectives. Above photo: Teresa Cruz (Cuba)

Namibia requested using CBD Article 15.7 language (benefit-sharing) in text on facilitating research. Above photo: Sem Taukondjo Shikongo (Namibia)

Uganda, on behalf of the AFRICAN GROUP, underlined the African Model Law, requested clarification on the further promotion of user measures, and stressed that a code of ethics should address benefit sharing with “countries of origin, including indigenous and local communities”. Above photo: David Hafashimana (Uganda)

Brazil supported the Indigenous Peoples’ proposal on the need for cooperation with the Article 8(j) Working Group, as traditional knowledge would be an element in an internatinal regime. Above photo: Maria Angelica Ikeda (Brazil)

Republic of Korea suggested replacing “dispute settlement” with “arbitration mechanisms”, so as not to prejudge the legal nature of a regime. Above photo: Mikyung Yun (Republic of Korea )

CBD Secretariat staff (L-R) Paola Deda, Dan Ogolla and Valerie Normand 

St. Lucia requested a reference to “genetic or biological resources” in the preambular paragraph reaffirming the sovereign rights of states over their natural resources. Joan Norville (Saint Lucia)

Colombia said compliance measures should address not only PIC and MAT, but also national legislation. Above photo: Juanita Chaves (Colombia)

Burkina Faso stressed that language referring to the international ABS regime should be coherent with language agreed upon in SWG-I. Soumayila Bance (Burkina Faso)

The Edmonds Institute reminded delegates that concerns about countries of origin should be reflected in the document on compliance measures for PIC. Above photo: Beth Burrows (the Edmonds Institute)

The International Indigenous Forum on Biodiversity reminded Parties that COP decided to safeguard and fully guarantee the rights of local and indigenous over their traditional knowledge and practices, requesting adequate references in the text.

Italy on behalf of the EC and the acceding countries noted that references to international certificates of origin must be coherent with the international regime on ABS. Above photo: Silvia Francescon (Italy)

WIPO suggested that disclosed traditional knowledge be recognized as prior art. Above photo: Shakeel Bhatti (WIPO)

Chair Hoogeveen made a noble attempt to mollify Argentina with the offer of a bottle of wine, which jokingly prompted one delegate to note that he was sharing benefits with only those who have access to him. Above photo: Jorge Riaboi (Argentina)

Above photo: Franca D'Amico (CBD Secretariat), informing delegates that the Chair's text on ABS is not ready for distribution.