29 May 2003
Dr. Kamil Idris Re-Appointed As WIPO Director General
Dr. Kamil Idris, a national of Sudan, was formally re-appointed to a second term as Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) on Tuesday May 27, 2003. Dr. Idris received unanimous support during an extraordinary session of the Organization's General Assembly on May 26 and 27, 2003, as member states confirmed a recommendation by the Organization's Coordination Committee to offer Dr. Idris a second six-year mandate, which will begin on December 1, 2003. In his acceptance speech, Dr. Idris pledged to build on the achievements of the past and to ensure that intellectual property gains its rightful place on the agenda of policy-makers at the highest level and is recognized as a powerful tool for economic, social and cultural development.
Dr. Idris outlined the Organization's accomplishments over the past six years and his goals for the future. During his first term as Director General his vision for the Organization had "an outward focus - based on relevance, empowerment and inclusion - and an inward focus - based on clarity, efficiency and transparency." It had aimed to highlight and underscore "the central role of intellectual property as an important tool for social development, economic growth and wealth creation. Thus the demystification campaign of WIPO focused on the benefits creativity and innovation brings to improving our daily lives." He expressed his commitment to strengthening and expanding these achievements during his second term.
Dr. Idris set out elements that he had identified, six years ago, as critical to the future of the intellectual property system and of WIPO - modernization of management; outreach; cooperation for development; progressive development of intellectual property law; and the Organization's global protection systems and services. After analyzing each element in relation to what he promised six years ago and what the Organization had achieved during his first mandate, he set out his vision for the future.
In closing, Dr. Idris reaffirmed his commitment to making intellectual property closer to the people, recognizing the diversity of cultures, origins and systems, and underscored his belief that "intellectual property is the foundation of human existence and co-existence and that it is foreign to no culture and native to all nations."
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