Lesotho will host the 11th session of the Council of Ministers, the supreme organ of the African Regional Intellectual Property Organisation (ARIPO) in Maseru from November 19 to 21.

The forum will be held to celebrate 30th anniversary of ARIPO, whereby people, who have made impact towards the development of the organisation will be given awards for their outstanding input within the organisation.

The Ministry of Law and Constitutional Affairs has stated in a press release that the forum will also launch the African Regional Legal Instrument on the Protection of Traditional knowledge and Expressions of Folklore.

At the same occasion, Heads of Intellectual property (IP) offices will also be granted an opportunity to exchange ideas and make recommendations and decisions on economic contributions of IP, as well as to encourage member states to look into the current development on the protection of traditional knowledge, generic resources and folklore expressions.

They will also find ways to promote the harmonisation and development of IP laws as well as to strengthen relations amongst member states on IP related matters.

The forum will be preceded by the 31st session of the Administrative Council, which is the executive organ of ARIPO, composed of all Heads of IP offices from 16 ARIPO member states.

Member States include among others, Botswana, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania and Uganda.

Source: LENA 12/11/2007