The space for indigenous peoples and local communities: Participation in policymaking and Benefit-Sharing negotiations

The Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit-Sharing is a landmark international legislation governing genetic resource access and benefit-sharing founded on genetic resource and traditional knowledge use. Its objective of fair and equitable benefit-sharing, encompasses granting appropriate genetic resource access and relevant technology transfer with due consideration of all rights over such resources and technologies, but a reorientation is needed. Despite the protocol's progressive nature, unaddressed issues remain, including inadequate participation and involvement by indigenous peoples and local communities’ during the crafting of both the Nagoya Protocol and its corresponding domestic laws—all of which cumulatively impact benefit-sharing processes.