Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Prior Informed Consent'

Over the last decades the struggle for indigenous rights has accomplished great achievements within international law. In relation to development projects and resource extraction on indigenous lands, the principle of Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) has gained increased recognition and is today expressed as an important instrument to realize indigenous peoples’ right to self-determination. Nevertheless, empirical evidence have identified power asymmetries as one of the major obstacles for effective and meaningful FPIC implementation. This study investigates how power asymmetries emerge and affect the right to self-determination through the four FPIC requirements. Based on field research and by applying a relational approach, the study investigates a case of mining activities in northwestern Argentina where indigenous communities currently experience an increased interest in lithium deposits on their lands from transnational corporations. The study shows how relations characterized by dependency and clientelism create a situation where actors hold unequal power positions which permeate all FPIC requirements severely undermining the principle’s potential to fulfill its purpose. Lastly, based on the findings the study argues substantial underpinnings in terms of necessary preconditions are needed if FPIC are to be able to ensure self-determination.

Discusses how to ascertain the meaning and implications of Right to Free Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC). Discusses the difference between meaningful participation of FPIC and the relationship between ‘national interest’ and the right to FPIC. Also analyses the protection of the rights of indigenous peoples, including mainly the right to FPIC in Ethiopia. Introduces recommendations concerning the middle ground between ‘national interest’ and the right to FPIC. Discusses how the right to FPIC can be legally recognised in Ethiopia and Africa in general, including particularly by the African Commission, and outlines specific recommendations on the relevant policies of the World Bank and African Development Bank.<br>Dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Law University of Pretoria, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Masters of Law (LLM in Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa). Prepared under the supervision of Odile Lim Tung, Faculty of Law and Management, University of Mauritius.<br>Mini Dissertation (LLM (Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa))--University of Pretoria, 2009.<br>http://www.chr.up.ac.za/<br>Centre for Human Rights<br>LLM

The ongoing reconciliation process in Canada has been criticized for failing to recognize the larger project of ongoing settler colonialism and for its inability to meaningfully respond to the aspirations and demands of Indigenous peoples for self-determination. However, in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s final report, the important recommendation was made for Canada to adopt the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the most accomplished proclamation of Indigenous peoples’ rights, especially their right to selfdetermination, as the framework for reconciliation in the country. Following the Commission’s recommendation, the Canadian government committed itself to implementing the Declaration, including its free, prior and informed consent requirement, into the country’s legislation. This is significant for settler colonial violence in Canada continues to manifest itself in a multitude of ways, including through imposed resource extraction projects and environmental violence, which dispossesses Indigenous peoples of their land, violating their right to self-determined social, cultural and economic development, and thus, denying them their dignity. Through an application of Atuahene’s theoretical framework of Dignity Takings and Dignity Restoration, this dissertation conceptualizes eliminatory resource exploitation projects and associated environmental violence as dignity takings in a settler colonial context, whereby Indigenous peoples are dispossessed of their land, as well as their right to self-determination. It then explores the potential role the implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples free, prior and informed consent requirement, which affirms that Indigenous people should make decisions on matters affecting their lands and/or people, can have for meaningfully restoring Indigenous peoples’ dignity, and thereby affirming their unqualified right to self-determination in settler colonial Canada. The findings demonstrate that while the free, prior and informed consent requirement’s regulatory and normative framework at the international level has the potential to meaningfully restore dignity to Indigenous peoples in theory, an assessment of the requirement’s implementation in the Canadian context reveals the considerable influence national politics and institutional norms have in shaping the requirement’s effective implementation, operationalization and dignity restoring potential.

El presente artículo explora la disputa vigente sobre el principio queindica que se requiere el consentimiento libre, previo e informado(CLPI) de un pueblo indígena para autorizar la extracción industrialen su territorio. A partir de los aportes de la obra de Tsing acerca delas conexiones globales, el trabajo analiza cómo es que los actoresinterconectados en redes se empeñan en llevar adelante ampliosproyectos de colaboración (como el reconocimiento de los derechosindígenas) empleando estrategias de persuasión. Se discutenlos esfuerzos realizados por el movimiento indígena transnacionalpara promover el concepto del CLPI, así como tres ejemplos en losque diferentes actores buscan apropiarse y recaracterizar el CLPIpara que calce en sus propias metas.En este trabajo propongo examinar cómo los proyectos gubernamentalesglobales rivales son promovidos y disputados por las redesdescentralizadas que unen a actores que operan a diferentes escalas.Sostengo que la noción de Tsing de «paquetes itinerantes» ofreceuna manera útil de conceptualizar los medios por los cuales loselementos de estos proyectos son difundidos, traducidos, acogidosy adaptados en diferentes localidades alrededor del mundo. Analizoestas dinámicas en relación con el cuestionamiento al modelo degobernanza basado en el principio de que se necesita el consentimientolibre, previo e informado (CLPI) de un pueblo indígenapara autorizar acciones que puedan impactar sobre un territorio o derechos indígenas. A través de la promoción de diferentes versionesde CLPI, los actores interconectados en red están disputandola naturaleza y la forma de la responsabilidad social empresarial,la autoridad del Estado y la relevancia de la gobernanza indígena.Propongo explorar las implicaciones de las diferentes estrategias deempaquetamiento para la disputa entre modelos rivales de gobernanzay para su propensión a ser acogidos en los sitios locales.<br>In this paper, I propose to examine how rival global governmentalprojects are asserted and contested by decentralized networks thatlink actors operating at different scales. I argue that Tsing’s notionof «travelling packages» provides a useful way of conceptualizingthe means by which elements of these projects are diffused, translated,taken up, and adapted into different localities around theworld. I explore these dynamics in relation to the contestation of agovernance model based on the principle that the free, prior andinformed consent (FPIC) of an indigenous people is required toauthorize actions that may affect upon indigenous territory or indigenousrights. Through the assertion of different versions of FPIC,networked actors are contesting the nature and shape of corporatesocial responsibility, the authority of the state, and the significanceof indigenous governance. I propose to explore the implicationsof different packaging strategies on the contestation between rivalgovernance models and on their propensity for uptake in local sites.

<p>There is a growing interplay of competing realities facing the international community in the general areas of innovation, technological advancement and overall economic development. The highly industrialised wealthy nations, largely located on the Northern hemisphere are on the one hand undoubtedly at the forefront in global research, technology and infrastructure development. The developing and least developed countries on the other hand are mostly situated on the Southern hemisphere. They are not as wealthy or technologically advanced as their&nbsp<br>Northern counterparts, but are naturally endowed with unique variations of plant, animal and micro-organism species occurring in natural ecosystems, as well as the traditional knowledge on&nbsp<br>how to use these unique species. This knowledge has been adjudged to be responsible for the sustainable maintenance of the earth&rsquo<br>s biodiversity. Increasing exploitation of biodiversity,&nbsp<br>spurred on by the competing realities identified above, has left the earth in a present state of alarm with respect to the uncontrolled loss of biodiversity. The traditional knowledge of local&nbsp<br>peoples has significantly offered leads to research institutes from the North in developing major advancements in drugs, cosmetics and agriculture. Little or no compensation has however been seen to go back to the indigenous&nbsp<br>communities and countries that provide resources, and indicate various possibilities through their traditional knowledge to the use of such resources. Efforts by some biodiversity rich countries to&nbsp<br>ddress this trend through legislation developed in accordance with the principles of the Convention on Biological Diversity have been frustrated due to the inability to enforce their domestic laws outside their borders. Theft of genetic resources and its associated traditional knowledge&nbsp<br>from such countries has therefore remained a major challenge. Against this backdrop, and on the&nbsp<br>insistence of biodiversity-rich developing countries, an international regime on access and benefit sharing was negotiated and its final text adopted in 2010. This international regime is as&nbsp<br>contained in the Nagoya Protocol. This research sets out to examine whether the Nagoya Protocol offers a final solution to the protection of traditional knowledge associated with biodiversity in&nbsp<br>biodiverse countries. It further examines the importance of domestic legislation in achieving the objectives of the Protocol. The research has been tailored to African biodiverse countries, and&nbsp<br>seeks these answers within the context of Africa.<br /> &nbsp<br></p>

Submitted by Maicon Juliano Schmidt (maicons) on 2015-07-10T16:55:55Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Rodolfo Souza da Silva.pdf: 9923682 bytes, checksum: 9f79c4fb3d2f53bcdc1f92ae3f2b6fa0 (MD5)<br>Made available in DSpace on 2015-07-10T16:55:55Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Rodolfo Souza da Silva.pdf: 9923682 bytes, checksum: 9f79c4fb3d2f53bcdc1f92ae3f2b6fa0 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-03-24<br>CAPES - Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior<br>PROSUP - Programa de Suporte à Pós-Gradução de Instituições de Ensino Particulares<br>Diante da chamada "Era do Acesso" o conhecimento tradicional associado à biodiversidade das sociedades tradicionais tornou-se uma verdadeira matéria-prima da indústria biotecnológica, sendo objeto de bioprospecção e direitos de propriedade intelectual por empresas alimentícias, farmacêuticas e entidades de pesquisa e desenvolvimento. Com base nos princípios do consentimento prévio informado e da repartição justa e equitativa dos benefícios, previstos na Convenção de Diversidade Biológica e na Medida Provisória 2.186-16, devem os interessados na bioprospecção do saber tradicional ser autorizados pelos seus detentores, assim como dividir os benefícios oriundos dos bioprodutos e das pesquisas desenvolvidas. Entretanto, no que pertine à repartição de benefícios, esta pode acarretar a imposição de valores privados e de cunho capitalista, causando riscos à dinâmica social e às práticas culturais dessas comunidades, as quais são construídas sob valores coletivos e comunitários. A partir desta constatação, o presente trabalho pretende analisar em que medida os princípios do consentimento prévio informado e da repartição de benefícios são capazes de promover a conservação dos bens socioambientais das sociedades tradicionais, quando os produtos desenvolvidos têm como base os conhecimentos tradicionais associados. Para tanto, a pesquisa utiliza quanto ao método de abordagem o dialético, com objetivo exploratório, mediante uma pesquisa bibliográfica e documental, a partir de uma perspectiva interdisciplinar. Mesmo diante de uma regulamentação internacional e nacional, indústria e pesquisadores se utilizam constantemente de discursos que pretendem desproteger o saber tradicional e legitimar a não obtenção e realização do consentimento prévio informado e da repartição de benefícios. Em razão das peculiaridades das sociedades tradicionais, as quais se autodeterminam em aspectos coletivos, comunitários e de solidariedade, estas possuem uma cultura diferenciada, pelo que o conhecimento tradicional associado à biodiversidade integra a sua diversidade cultural. Diante dessa diversidade e a sua relação com o meio ambiente, os movimentos sociais na América Latina e no Brasil, influenciaram a incorporação de direitos na Constituição Federal de 1988, fazendo surgir a sociobiodiversidade como nova categoria jurídica. Com a lógica capitalista e de desenvolvimento da indústria biotecnológica, a qual não considera os aspectos da sociobiodiversidade, um diálogo intercultural e uma gestão da inovação biotecnológica mostram-se um caminho para gerenciar a complexidade e as diferentes visões dos atores envolvidos na prática bioprospectiva do saber tradicional, inserindo os direitos socioambientais nesse contexto. A partir da constatação da existência de outros pressupostos jurídicos para bioprospecção, como os princípios da precaução, equidade intergeracional e da função social da propriedade, critica-se o consentimento prévio informado e a repartição de benefícios, demonstrando que o atendimento destes deve ser feito em harmonia com os demais pressupostos jurídicos existentes, de maneira a ser possível conservar a sociobiodiversidade das sociedades tradicionais, garantindo o seu uso sustentável e a manutenção de suas vidas. Sugere-se, nesse fio condutor, critérios a serem considerados quando da definição dos benefícios e sua repartição: 1) os aspectos da sociobiodiversidade dos grupos tradicionais, a partir dos valores, práticas culturais e organizações sociais; 2) o meio ambiente onde vivem esses grupos e onde será acessado o recurso genético da biodiversidade; 3) requerimento e concessão de patentes e de quaisquer benefícios de forma compartilhada com as sociedades tradicionais.<br>In the face of “The Age of Access", traditional knowledge associated with biodiversity of traditional societies has become raw material of the biotechnology industry, being subject of bioprospecting and intellectual property rights for food, pharmaceutical and research and development companies. Based on the principles of prior informed consent and benefits sharing, benefits provided by Convention on Biological Diversity and Medida Provisória nº.2.186-16/01, the interested in bioprospecting of traditional knowledge must be authorized by their holders and share the benefits derived from research and development of bioproducts. However, in respect the benefits sharing, this can lead to the imposition of private and capitalist values, causing risks to the social dynamics and cultural practices of these communities, which are performed under collective and community values. From this finding, the present study aims to analyze to what extent the principles of prior informed consent and benefit sharing are able to promote the conservation of environmental goods of traditional societies, when the developed products are based on the traditional knowledge. For this, the research uses the dialectic approach method, with exploratory objective, through a bibliographic and documentary research, from an interdisciplinary perspective. Even in the face of a international e and national regulation, researchers and industry constantly use discourses that seek unprotect the traditional knowledge and legitimize the non-obtainment and non-realization of the prior informed consent and benefit sharing. Because of the peculiarities of traditional societies, which consider themselves in collective, community and solidarity aspects, these communities have a different culture, being the traditional knowledge associated integrated in your cultural diversity. Given this diversity and its relationship with the environment, social movements in the Latin America and Brasil influenced the incorporation of rights in the Federal Constitution of 1988, emerging sociobiodiversity as new legal category. With the capitalist and development logic of the biotechnology industry, which does not consider aspects of sociobiodiversity, intercultural dialogue and management of biotechnology innovation shows a way to manage the complexity and the different views of the actors involved in the practice of bioprospecting traditional knowledge, inserting socioenvironmental rights in this context. From the establishment of the existence of other legal requirements for bioprospecting, such as the principles of precaution, intergenerational equity and social function of property, is criticized the prior informed consent and benefits sharing, showing that the treatment of these should be done in harmony with other existing legal requirements in order to be able to conserve the sociobiodiversity of traditional societies, ensuring the sustainable use of their resources and maintenance of their lives. It is suggested in this context, some criteria to be considered when defining the benefits and its allocations: 1) sociobiodiversity aspects of traditional groups, from the values, cultural practices and social organizations;2) the environment where live these groups and where will be accessed and where the genetic resources of biodiversity; 3)application and granting patents and any benefits jointly with traditional societies.

Magister Legum - LLM (Mercantile and Labour Law)<br>Traditional Knowledge (TK) has previously been considered a 'subject' in the public domain, unworthy of legal protection. However, the last few decades have witnessed increased discussions on the need to protect the knowledge of indigenous peoples for their economic sustenance, the conservation of biodiversity and modern scientific innovation. Questions remain as to how TK can best be protected through existing, adapted or sui generis legal frameworks. Based on an examination of the formal knowledge-protection mechanisms (i.e. the existing intellectual property system), this mini-thesis contends that these existing systems are inadequate for protecting TK. As a matter of fact, they serve as veritable platforms for incidences of biopiracy. It further argues that the many international initiatives designed to protect TK have so far failed owing to inherent shortcomings embedded in them. Furthermore, a comparative assessment of several national initiatives (in New Zealand, South Africa and Kenya) supports an understanding that several domestic efforts to protect TK have been rendered ineffective due to the insurmountable challenge of dealing with the international violations of local TK rights. It is therefore important that on-going international negotiations for the protection of TK, including the negotiations within the World Intellectual Property Organisation's Intergovernmental Committee on Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore (IGC), do not adopt similar approaches to those employed in previous initiatives if TK must be efficiently and effectively protected. This mini-thesis concludes that indigenous peoples possess peculiar protection mechanisms for their TK within the ambit of their customary legal systems and that these indigenous mechanisms are the required anchors for effective global protections.

Magister Legum - LLM (Mercantile and Labour Law)<br>Traditional Knowledge (TK) has previously been considered a 'subject' in the public domain, unworthy of legal protection. However, the last few decades have witnessed increased discussions on the need to protect the knowledge of indigenous peoples for their economic sustenance, the conservation of biodiversity and modern scientific innovation. Questions remain as to how TK can best be protected through existing, adapted or sui generis legal frameworks. Based on an examination of the formal knowledge-protection mechanisms (i.e. the existing intellectual property system), this mini-thesis contends that these existing systems are inadequate for protecting TK. As a matter of fact, they serve as veritable platforms for incidences of biopiracy. It further argues that the many international initiatives designed to protect TK have so far failed owing to inherent shortcomings embedded in them. Furthermore, a comparative assessment of several national initiatives (in New Zealand, South Africa and Kenya) supports an understanding that several domestic efforts to protect TK have been rendered ineffective due to the insurmountable challenge of dealing with the international violations of local TK rights. It is therefore important that on-going international negotiations for the protection of TK, including the negotiations within the World Intellectual Property Organisation's Intergovernmental Committee on Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore (IGC), do not adopt similar approaches to those employed in previous initiatives if TK must be efficiently and effectively protected. This mini-thesis concludes that indigenous peoples possess peculiar protection mechanisms for their TK within the ambit of their customary legal systems and that these indigenous mechanisms are the required anchors for effective global protections.

This thesis draws on David Harvey’s concept of “accumulation by dispossession” and an international political economy (IPE) approach centred on the institutional arrangements and power structures that privilege certain actors and values, in order to critique current capitalist practices of primitive accumulation by the global corporate extractive industry. The thesis examines how accumulation by dispossession by the global extractive industry is facilitated by the “free entry” or “free mining” principle. It does so by focusing on Canada as a leader in the global extractive industry and the spread of this country’s mining laws to other countries – in other words, the transnationalisation of norms in the global extractive industry – so as to maintain a consistent and familiar operating environment for Canadian extractive companies. The transnationalisation of norms is further promoted by key international institutions such as the World Bank, which is also the world’s largest development lender and also plays a key role in shaping the regulations that govern natural resource extraction. The thesis briefly investigates some Canadian examples of resource extraction projects, in order to demonstrate the weaknesses of Canadian mining laws, particularly the lack of protection of landowners’ rights under the free entry system and the subsequent need for “free, prior and informed consent” (FPIC). The thesis also considers some of the challenges to the adoption and implementation of the right to FPIC. These challenges include embedded institutional structures like the free entry mining system, international political economy (IPE) as shaped by international institutions and powerful corporations, as well as concerns regarding ‘local’ power structures or the legitimacy of representatives of communities affected by extractive projects. The thesis concludes that in order for Canada to be truly recognized as a leader in the global extractive industry, it must establish legal norms domestically to ensure that Canadian mining companies and residents can be held accountable when there is evidence of environmental and/or human rights violations associated with the activities of Canadian mining companies abroad. The thesis also concludes that Canada needs to address underlying structural issues such as the free entry mining system and implement FPIC, in order to curb “accumulation by dispossession” by the extractive industry, both domestically and abroad.

碩士<br>國立中興大學<br>法律學系科技法律碩士班<br>101<br>Following the promulgation of Human Biobank Act in 2010 and Act on Human Subjects Research in 2011, legal norms for research involving human subjects have become available. However, the human research materials in medical institutions mostly come from medical residual samples of patients, while specimens for pathology are part of medical history. According to the Medical Act, specimens should be retained for a period of at last seven years. However specimens for pathology within the shelf life used for research involve medical acts and research behaviors. In terms of the appropriateness of medical acts and research acts, the issue of competition and order of applicability are yet to be reviewed. As for the preset condition for the acquisition of research participants’ specimens in accordance with the Act on Human Subjects, the specimens are available for research use after obtaining informed consent from research participants. This condition is not practiced in medical institutions and research units where researches are conducted with the use of patients’ medical residual samples. Hence, through the interview approach, an insight was gained into the specimen management processes of medical institutions and the response approaches of the specimen management processes that are applicable in accordance with the Act on Human Subjects. After reviewing and comparing the Act on Human Subjects related laws and regulations, the applicability of the specimen management processes adopted in medical institutions was reviewed again. The research results show that the definition of human specimens will fit the profile of the definition of “medical residual samples” only after the pathological and diagnostic procedures are completed. Human specimens can then be allowed for research. For specimens for pathology that have not completed the the 7-year shelf life legal requirements, although partial sections for research purpose are not in violation of the preservation obligations in accordance with Medical Act, they are in violation of informed consent requirements in accordance with the relevant provisions of Act on Human Subjects. As medical behaviors and research acts are under the jurisdiction of different legal areas, competing issues as a result of the time overlapping of the two behaviors do not arise. However, they are bound by the necessary norms of the respective areas. It was found after comparing the Act on Human Subjects related laws and regulations that provisions for exceptional preservations of delinked specimens stipulated in Act on Human Subjects related laws and regulations have gone beyond the autonomy of human dignity protected by the Constitution. Meanwhile, allowing legal representatives to consent to healthy fetuses and minors’ participation in research simply lacks any reasonable necessity. Thus, Act on Human Research laws and regulations, as well as recommendations for amendments to be made by the competent authorities in accordance with the law were put forth in this study, with the hope of providing a clearer and more appropriate reference for related future law amendments and medical residual sample management.