بسم الله الرحمن الرحیم Statement By  Ms. Arezoo Doraly Representative of Iran before The 63rd series of meetings of the WIPO Assemblies Agenda item 9 (VI): The Intergovernmental Committee on Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore (IGC) (WO/GA/55/6) (WO/GA/55/11) Geneva, 18 July 2022     Thank you Madam Chair,        It is a long-standing aspirations of the right holders and beneficiaries in many countries to see that their Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge, and Traditional Cultural Expressions to be protected against misappropriation and misuse. It is imperative for this Committee to continue to explore ways in which an effective mandatory disclosure requirement could be established, while also recognizing the value addition of establishing databases and other information system.       It may be emphasized that the issues of disclosure requirement and benefit sharing based on prior informed consent and on mutually agreed terms, should be adequately addressed to ensure sustainability of the results of our work. Doing so would move the IP system in a more balanced direction, ensuring the legitimate interests of developing countries in the IP system, improving the enabling environment for development and enhancing the contribution of developing countries to global knowledge and finally promote of creativity and innovation. Therefore, to fill the lacuna in international IP system and to realize all those objectives, finalization of international legally binding instrument/s to provide effective protection of Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge, and Traditional Cultural Expressions is essential.       We believe that political will, good faith, flexibility and pragmatism are of critical importance in our engagements and deliberations so that this long-standing item can be brought to a successful conclusion.     My delegation would like to underline the need to expedite and advance the Committee’s work, with a view to finalizing an agreement on an international legal instrument(s), relating to intellectual property, which will ensure the balanced and effective protection of genetic resources (GRs), traditional knowledge (TK) and traditional cultural expressions (TCEs).      Finally, my delegation support consultations regarding methodology of the Committee with a view to reaching agreement on a methodology to move the work of the Committee forward in future sessions.    I thank you Madam Chair