37th SCCR: CIS Statement on the Agenda on Limitations and Exceptions

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Centre for Internet and Society is a civil society organisation based in India working on issues of openness and access to knowledge, amongst others.

India is a diverse country with thriving communities working on and promoting access to research, data, archival material, educational material, and developing material to benefit persons with other disabilities. As such, the regional seminars will be an excellent opportunity for such communities to interact with various stakeholders and government delegates; and help formulate concrete principles that should inform the international legal instrument that we hope is developed and discussed soon.

To enable comprehensive and substantive participation and discussions, I urge member states and WIPO to undertake steps to make the regional seminars as inclusive as possible. I request the secretariat and member states to actively work with civil society to identify and invite such community leaders.

Thank you very much.