Decision of UN Sanctions Committee on WIPO’s Technical Assistance to Islamic Republic of Iran

Geneva, September 25, 2012
PR/2012/721

The United Nations (UN) committee charged with overseeing implementation of Security Council resolutions relating to the Islamic Republic of Iran has confirmed that WIPO technical assistance to the Islamic Republic of Iran does not violate United Nations resolutions.

In a letter to WIPO Director General Francis Gurry , the Chairman of the Committee Néstor Osorio, said “I wish to convey the Committee’s understanding that nothing in Security Council resolutions 1696 (2006), 1737 (2006), 1747 (2007), 1803 (2008) and 1929 (2010) prohibit the proposed project as described in your letter aimed at assisting Iran in developing technical capacity for intellectual property rights protection.”

The letter also advises early consultation with the Committee. WIPO has already put in place measures to ensure that all managers must refer to WIPO’s Office of the Legal Counsel (OLC) for guidance and clearance any activity proposed in a country subject to UN sanctions.  OLC will, wherever necessary, consult the appropriate UN sanctions committee. 

This letter follows a similar communication from the committee overseeing implementation of Security Council resolutions relating to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) which also said that WIPO assistance to DPRK does not violate UN resolutions.