Reforms at WIPO

Geneva, September 15, 1998
Press Releases PR/1998/140

REFORMS AT WIPO

The Member States of WIPO discussed during the current General Assembly proposals for reform submitted by the Director General.

The necessary reforms

WIPO, an intergovernmental organization within the United Nations family, has been experiencing remarkable and continuing growth in its activities for many years. This development inevitably brings a need for reforms.

The topics addressed

• Simplification of the administration of WIPO's finances,
• Policies and practices for the nomination and appointment of Directors General,
• Simplification of the decision-making process for the Member States of WIPO

The outcome

• With regard to the issues linked to WIPO finances, the General Assembly decided that the Program and Budget Committee should, at its next session, discuss a policy for a long-term strategy on the budget surpluses and reserve funds of WIPO;
  

With regard to the policies and practices for the nomination and appointment of Directors General, the Member States agreed to the principle of a six-year term of office, that would be renewable once, and of an appropriate amendment to the WIPO Convention;

• With regard to the decision-making machinery, the Member States made slight simplifications to the structure of the Committees.

For more detailed information, please contact the Media Relations and Public Information Section of WIPO:

Tel.: (+41 22) 338 98 24
Fax: (+41 22) 338 88 10
E-mail: publicinf@wipo.int