Rutzolijirisaxik Voluntary Guidelines for the Repatriation of Traditional Knowledge Relevant for the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biological Diversity

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Intended Audience

“The guidelines are intended to be practical guidance to Parties, Governments, international and regional organizations, museums, universities, herbaria, botanical, and zoological gardens, databases, registers, gene-banks, libraries, archives and information services, private collections, private sector and other entities holding, storing or housing traditional knowledge and related or complementary information, and indigenous peoples and local communities, in efforts to repatriate traditional knowledge.”

Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)

2018

“There is today a growing appreciation of the value of traditional knowledge and its contribution to addressing global problems, such as poverty, climate change, sustainable use, and conservation. Thus, recovering traditional knowledge is a global priority. Many government departments, universities, museums, herbaria, botanical and zoological gardens and other entities hold, store or house collections containing recorded or documented traditional knowledge, innovations and practices of indigenous peoples and local communities, which remains relevant to conservation and sustainable use, and important for cultural and knowledge restoration.

The Convention on Biological Diversity, in its Article 17 (Exchange of information), requires Parties to facilitate the exchange of information, from all publicly available sources, relevant to the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity, including exchange of results of technical, scientific and socioeconomic research as well as information on training and surveying programmes, specialized knowledge, indigenous and traditional knowledge, and, where feasible, the repatriation of information. Furthermore, Article 18 of the Convention requires Parties, among other things, to promote technical and scientific cooperation as well as, in accordance with national legislation and policies, to encourage and develop methods of cooperation for the development and use of technologies, including indigenous andtraditional technologies.” (Foreword)

“The objective of the Rutzolijirisaxik Voluntary Guidelines is to facilitate the repatriation of the traditional knowledge of indigenous peoples and local communities embodying traditional lifestyles relevant for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity, including related or complementary information, in accordance with Article 8(j) and Article 17, paragraph 2, of the Convention, in order to facilitate the recovery of traditional knowledge relevant for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity, and without limiting or restricting its ongoing use and access, unless under mutually agreed terms.” (p.1)

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SDGs LINKAGES

The resource is closely linked to SDG targets around biodiversity and property rights, including 1.4 (access to basic services and property), 2.5 (safeguarding genetic diversity of crops and wild relatives and associated traditional knowledge), 4.4 (staff skills), 9.1 (inclusive infrastructure for wellbeing and economic development), 9.A (support for science in developing countries), 10.2 (universal social, economic and political inclusion), 11.4 (protect and safeguard cultural and natural heritage), 15.1 (protect terrestrial and freshwater habitats), 15.5 (halt declines in biodiversity), 15.6 (sharing benefits of use of biodiversity with originating countries and communities), 16.4 (return illegally held goods), 16.6 (effective, accountable and transparent institutions), 16.10 (protection the right to information and IP, among other rights) and 16.B (supports laws and policies for sustainable development), as well as 17.6 (international co-operation to support science in developing countries), 17.14 (policy coherence for sustainable development) 17.16 and 17.17 (global and cross-sector partnerships, respectively).

Click on the SDG Target to discover Our Collections Matter indicators

SDG 1.4: Equal Rights to Ownership, Basic Services, Technology and Economic Resources
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Numbers and proportions of people from particular groups using collections in comparison with demographics in broader society.
Numbers of people accessing collections.
Number of targeted programmes that aim to enhance access to collections by disadvantaged groups.
Sustainable tourism that enhances local communities’ access to basic services, ownership and control over land and other forms of property (including cultural and natural heritage), as well as to technology and markets.
Involvement of people from disadvantaged groups in decision-making activities and processes relating to collections and collections-based institutions.
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SDG 2.5: Maintain the Genetic Diversity in Food Production
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Collections development related to genetic diversity of seeds, cultivated plants, farmed and domesticated animals (notably of local or at-risk varieties) and related wild species, for example in herbaria, museums, seed and gene banks, and seed libraries.
Number of educational programmes related to genetic diversity of domesticated plants, animals and wild relatives.
Number of educational programmes related to fair and equitable benefits of use of genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge, following international agreements (e.g. Nagoya Protocol).
Number of educational and awareness programmes for people to ensure that they are aware of their rights and protections in terms of traditional knowledge, and exploitation of genetic resources.
Number of research activities that help understand traditional knowledge, and genetic diversity of crop plants and animals.
Ensure that producers of crop plants and animals are fairly compensated.
Policies and procedures in place to ensure seed banks are soundly managed, in terms of risk management and emergency planning.
Policies and procedures in place to ensure legal compliance with fair and equitable benefits of use of genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge, following international agreements (e.g. Nagoya Protocol).
Number of partnerships at national, regional and international levels, as appropriate, to soundly manage seed and plant banks.
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SDG 4.4: Increase the Number of People with Relevant Skills for Financial Success
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Number of young people and adults in skills-development activities and programmes drawing on collections, for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship.
Increase in number of young people and adults in such programmes.
Number and proportion of staff who have received training in the last year, to better support their contribution to the SDGs.
Programs and processes in place to ensure the availability of a skilled workforce.
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SDG 9.1: Develop Sustainable, Resilient and Inclusive Infrastructures
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Development of research-useful collections to support reliable, sustainable and resilient use by researchers and others.
Number and proportion of collections facilities and stores that support economic development and human well-being.
Number and proportion of collections facilities and stores that provide affordable and equitable access for all.
Investment in collections facilities.
Inclusion of collections information in regional and transborder initiatives, notably via digital access for discoverability.
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SDG 9.A: Facilitate Sustainable Infrastructure Development for Developing Countries
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Plans in place to support development of sustainable and resilient infrastructure in developing countries through financial, technological and technical support, for example through: i. joint projects, ii. funding bids, iii. sharing equipment, collections and collections information as appropriate, iv. in order to support development of high-quality infrastructures for sustainable development, research and innovation.
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SDG 10.2: Promote Universal Social Economic and Political Inclusion
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Collections development to ensure that collections effectively meet the needs of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.
Number and proportion of educational and participatory programmes that promote participation irrespective of social or other status.
Numbers and proportions of people making use of collections in relation to the demographic of the local population.
Numbers and proportions of people involved in focused programmes aimed at promoting social, economic and political inclusion.
Numbers and proportions of people from different demographic groups involved in decision-making processes relating to collections and collections-based institutions.
Number and types of partnerships that build relationships with marginalized groups, individuals and communities.
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SDG 11.4: Protect the Worlds Cultural and Natural Heritage
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Total expenditure (public and private) per capita spent on the preservation, protection and conservation of all cultural and natural heritage, by type of heritage.
Plans, policies and procedures in place for the safe use of collections for a variety of purposes, protecting and safeguarding both collections and those who use them.
Plans, policies and procedures in place for the identification, safeguarding and protection of cultural and natural heritage at risk.
Collecting programmes in place to protect, safeguard and make use of cultural and natural heritage, addressing the needs of communities and stakeholders, and ensuring that collections can be an effective resource for sustainable development.
Number and diversity of educational, awareness-raising, research programmes, and partnerships that aim to strengthen protection of cultural and natural heritage.
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SDG 15.1: Conserve and Restore Terrestrial and Freshwater Ecosystems
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Proportion of terrestrial and inland freshwater systems in a good ecological condition.
Information on, educational programmes, collections development, research and partnerships relating to terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems drawing on collections in place.
Policies relating to collections and their use aligned with international agreements for conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity.
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SDG 15.5: Protect Biodiversity and Natural Habitats
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Number and proportion of habitats, notably endangered habitats, and species with favourable conservation status, with special reference to locally, nationally and globally endangered species.
Information on, programmes relating to, collections development, and partnerships relating to habitats and species drawing on collections in place, to support their protection and continued existence.
Measures taken to enhance biodiversity value of green space associated with collections institutions.
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SDG 15.6: Promote Access to Genetic Resources and Fair Sharing of the Benefits
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Policies, plans and agreements in place for access and benefit sharing relating to use of collections, in line with the Nagoya Protocol (notably relating to natural history collections, gene banks, tissue banks, seed banks).
Effective communication and dissemination methods in place to promote access to resources, and access to relevant policies, plans and agreements, in place.
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SDG 16.4: Combat Organized Crime and Illicit Financial and Arms Flows
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Identification of stolen assets, return of stolen assets.
Collections development, education, awareness-raising and partnership activities relating to organized crime, with a view to combatting organized crime everywhere.
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SDG 16.6: Develop Effective Accountable and Transparent Institutions
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Proportion of the population [audience/users/non-users] satisfied with their last experience of public services.
Access to information, and accountability policies and mechanisms, in place.
Effective institutional arrangements, both for own working and for working in partnership with other sectors, in place.
Plans and arrangements in place for extraordinary circumstances such as natural and human-caused disasters.
Effective arrangements in place to fulfil legal and social obligations and responsibilities.
Effective arrangements in place for transparent communication and reporting of institutional performance.
Effective arrangements in place for transparent decision-making and accountability.
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SDG 16.10: Ensure Public Access to Information and Protect Fundamental Freedoms
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Adopt and implement constitutional, statutory and/or policy guarantees for public access to information.
Plans in place, and plans implemented to enhance public access to information relating to collections.
Plans in place, and plans implemented to support fundamental freedoms, in line with human rights, national and international agreements and legislation.
Plans and procedures in place for public access to information relating to the operation and management of collections-based institutions.
Complaint mechanism in place for public to use where public access to information and fundamental freedoms not supported or fulfilled.
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SDG 16.B: Promote and Enforce Non-Discriminatory Laws and Policies
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Proportion of population [audience/users/non-users] reporting having personally felt discriminated against or harassed in the previous 12 months on the basis of a ground of discrimination prohibited under international human rights law.
Number and proportion of policies that incorporate sustainable development considerations, in the full sense of recognizing all three of social, economic and environmental considerations.
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SDG 17.14: Enhance Policy Coherence for Sustainable Development
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Proportion of policies that incorporate sustainable development considerations, linking to SDGs and targets.
Incorporation of policy considerations from outside the collections sector into policies of collections-based institutions, to facilitate partnerships and effectiveness.
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SDG 17.16: Enhance the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Number and/or increase in number, and diversity of global and international multi-stakeholder partnerships that share collection-related knowledge, expertise, technology and financial resources to address the SDGs, or that otherwise involve collections-based organisations and institutions.
Number and/or increase in number, and diversity of global and international multi-stakeholder partnerships involving developing countries that share collection-related knowledge, expertise, technology and financial resources to address the SDGs.
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SDG 17.17: Encourage Effective Partnerships
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Amount of United States dollars committed to public-private and civil society partnerships.
Number and/or increase in number, and diversity of local, national and regional multi-stakeholder (public, public-private and civil society) partnerships that address the SDGs drawing on collections, or that otherwise involve collections-based organisations and institutions.
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SDG 17.6: Knowledge Sharing and Cooperation for Access to Science, Technology and Innovation
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Number and diversity of North-South, South-South and triangular co-operations and projects to support access to science, technology and innovation and enhance knowledge-sharing on mutually agreed terms.
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