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Magister Legum - LLM (Mercantile and Labour Law) / 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) / 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.

Text in Afrikaans / Die eerste hoofstuk omskryf die begrip ngano, daarna volg 'n uiteensetting hoe die Venda mondelinge tradisie in die verlede gefunksioneer het en word die huidige aard en posisie van die verskynsel in die lewe van die gemeenskap gedefinieer. Veranderende sosio-ekonomiese en politieke kragte het die tradisionele lewenswyse van die Venda-mense in so 'n mate versteur dat die mondelinge tradisie en die stem van die storieverteller nie meer hoog waardeer word deur die moderne geslag nie. Die teoretiese uitgangspunt van hierdie tesis aanvaar dat religie 'n radikaal integrerend funksie het wat chaos in sinvolle patrone inkorporeer. Dialekties verbind aan die eerste beginsel van religie is die inherente drang van die mens se gees om alle gegewe limiete te transendeer. Vanuit hierdie fokus kan ngano as religieuse artikulasies interpreteer word wat chaos in sinvolle patrone uitdruk, en waarin oak opstand teen bestaande orde en tradisionele aannames uitgespreek word. In bree trekke skets die tweede hoofstuk die historiese agtergrond van die Venda-mense vanaf 800 nC tot en met die resente politieke veranderinge van 1994 in die Noordelike Provinsie. Die tweede deel van die hoofstuk bied 'n uiteensetting van hul religio-filosofiese agtergrond en tesame met die geskiedkundige gebeure dien dit as interpretatiewe konteks vir hierdie oeroue verhale wat van die een geslag na die ander oorgelewer is. In die volgende nege hoofstukke verskyn vyftig volksverhale wat in agt verskillende areas in Venda gedokumenteer is. Elke verhaal is vooraf voorsien van 'n opsomming van die inhoud van die verhaal asook 'n interpretasie van die verhaal deur die verteller self of verduidelikings van haar helpers. Die oorspronklike Venda-teks word gegee in die presiese woorde van die verteller met daarby die Afrikaanse vertaling. 'n Terna wat hehaaldelik voorkom is die opstand van die magteloses (die kind, die vrou of niksseggende persoon) teen magtiges (die koning, die man, dominerende familielede of tradisionele strukture). Ander gewilde temas is die ellende van hongersnood, die aanwending en voorkoms van toorkragte en bonatuurlike transformasies. Ten slotte is daar drie Sankambe-verhale waarin die fantastiese avonture van hasie, die aartbedrieer, wat op grand van blote vernuf oorleef, humoristies vertel word. Ofskoon daar duidelike artikulasies van verset en kritiek teen die tradisionele orde en teen magtiges is, waag ngano dit selde buite die tradisioneel religieus-filosofiese grense. / The first chapter outlines the concept ngano, thereafter the function of the Venda oral tradition in the past is described and the present nature and position of the phenomenon in community living is defined. Changing socio-economic and political forces disturbed traditional Venda life-style to such an extent that the oral tradition and the voice of the storyteller are not highly regarded by the modern generation. The theoretical point of departure of this thesis accepts the radical integrative function of religion ordering chaos into meaningful patterns. Dialectically tied to this first principle of religion is the inherent urgency of the human spirit to transcend all given limits. Viewed thus, ngano can be interpreted as religious utterances in which chaos is expressed in meaningful patterns and where resistance is articulated against existing order and traditional assumptions. Chapter two sketches the historical background of the Venda people from 800 AD up to recent political changes of 1994 in the Northern Province. The second part of this chapter presents an exposition of their religio-philosophic background which, together with the historical events provide an interpretative context for these ancient stories handed down from one generation to the next. Fifty folk tales (ngano) appear in the following nine chapters documented in eight different areas in Venda. Every narrative is introduced by a summary of the content of the story together with an interpretation by narrator and assistants. The Venda text is given first adhering as closely as possible to the original words of the narrator. Every line is followed by an Afrikaans translation. A recurring theme in ngano is the powerless (child, wife or insignificant person) resisting the powerful (king, husband/man, dominating family members or unyielding traditional structures). Other popular themes are the misery of famine, application and occurrence of witchcraft and supernatural transformations. Lastly three Sankambe-stories are documented in which the fantastic antics of the hare, the trickster in Venda folk tales who survives by sheer cunning, are humorously narrated. Although there are distinct expressions of resistance and criticism against the existing order and dominating powers, ngano seldom ventures beyond traditional religious and philosophic boundaries. / Religious Studies and Arabic / D. Litt et Phil. (Religious Studies)

A descriptive quantitative study was undertaken in the Leribe and Butha-buthe northern districts of Lesotho. Thirty-six trained, twenty-four untrained TBAs and nine nurses involved in training TBAs were recruited. In line with research by Clarke and Lephoto (1989:3) the TBAs were elderly females who had children of their own. In contrast with the MOH (1993: 10) where TBAs were found to be illiterate, most (93%) of the TBAs in this study had at least a primary education. The art of primary midwifery was learned through assisting with a delivery and being taught by mothers or mothers-in-law. The public health nurses conduct formal training ofTBAs in Lesotho over a period of two weeks, where subjects like ante-natal care, delivery of the baby and post- natal care are addressed. The majority (78.8%) provide antenatal care at their homes or the home of the mother. This includes palpation, history taking, and abdominal massage and health education. An important role is identifying women at risk. During labour the progress of labour is monitored and care is given to the mother and baby post-natally. Trained TBAs could identify women at risk more readily than untrained TBAs. Cases referred most frequently were prolonged labour and retained placenta. Trained TBAs practiced hygiene more often and gave less herbs than untrained TBAs. The health care system is providing support to the TBAs through training and supervision, but was found to be inadequate. Community leaders are involved in the selection of TBAs for training. Regular meetings are held with the TB As to discuss problems. Communication is one of the problems the TB As have to face, because of the long distances from health care centres. A lack of infrastructure and supplies is also of concern. It can be concluded that TBAs play an important role in maternal health care in Lesotho and are supported to a lesser degree by the health care system, which causes problems for the TBAs in their practices. It is recommended that the ministry of health becomes more aware of the need for training TBAs and that a programme for training should be more appropriate, taking cultural practices into account. / Advanced Nursing Science / D.Lit. et Phil.

Paralelamente aos esforços dos países, sob a liderança norte-americana, para a construção de um sistema multilateral de comércio mais livre e mais integrado, o pós-guerra assistiu a esforços regionalistas sob a forma de Acordos Regionais de Comércio (ARCs). Impulsionados pela experiência européia, países na América Latina e na África engajaram-se na formação de ARCs nas décadas de 1960 e 1970, sem grande sucesso, marcando o primeiro momento regionalista. A ordem internacional após Guerra Fria foi marcada pelo reavivamento do regionalismo com a celebração de novos ARCs e o relançamento de antigos acordos, marcando o segundo momento. A formação de ARCs, especialmente a explosão de acordos desde a inauguração da OMC, tem suscitado discussões entre o multilateralismo e o regionalismo, se seriam complementares ou contraditórios. A percepção da importância que assumiram os ARCs na teoria econômica e nas relações econômicas internacionais desperta o interesse sobre os motivos que levam os países a formarem esses acordos e a despenderem tanto tempo e esforço em sua formação. De acordo com a análise tradicional, os países buscam os ARCs como forma de aumentar as trocas comerciais e os investimentos entre os países membros por meio da redução de barreiras alfandegárias. Embora estejam presentes nos ARCs e sejam importantes nos cálculos dos países na formação desse acordo, os motivos tradicionais não conferem um explicação completa, especialmente quando se considera novo regionalismo, marcado por grandes avanços nas liberalizações multilateral e unilateral. O fato é que os países não buscam a integração apenas por suas razões econômicas intrínsecas, configuradas nos ganhos tradicionais, os ganhos expressos em seus acordos. Além dos ganhos comerciais, muitas vezes, mais importantes que os ganhos econômicos, os países têm outros objetivos quando aderem a arranjos regionais. Em busca de uma teoria mais completa para explicar a formação de ARCs, este trabalho se apoiará em quatro ganhos não-tradicionais: acesso seguro a mercados, segurança, suporte para reformas domésticas e incremento do poder de barganha. / Alongside with the countries efforts, under the leadership of United States, to the construction of a freer and more integrated multilateral trade system, the post-war period witnessed the regionalist efforts in the form of Regional Trade Agreements (RTAs). Stimulated by the European experience, countries in Latin America and Africa engaged themselves into the formation of RTAs in the 1960\'s and 1970\'s, without much success, determining the first regionalist period. The international order after the Cold War was marked by the revival of regionalism with the signing of new RTAs and the relaunch of old ones, determining the second period. The formation of RTAs, especially the explosion of new agreements since the inauguration of the WTO, has created discussions between multilateralism and regionalism, if they are complementary or contradictory. The perception of the importance assumed by the RTAs in economic theory and in the international economic relations arouses the interest about the reasons that lead countries to form such agreements and spend both time and efforts into their formation. According to the traditional analysis, countries seek RTAs as a way to increase trade and investment among member countries by reducing customs barriers. Despite being present in RTAs and despite being important in the countries calculation during agreements formation, the traditional motives don\'t grant a complete explanation, especially when considering the new regionalism, marked by great progress in the multilateral and unilateral liberalization. The fact is that countries do not seek integration only by its intrinsic economic reasons, configured in the traditional gains, gains that are expressed in their agreements. In addition to trade gains, often, more important than the economic gains, countries have other goals when they join regional arrangements. Searching for a more complete theory to explain the formation of RTAs, this work will be supported by four nontraditional gains: safe markets access, security, support for domestic reforms and increased bargain power.

O patrimônio biocultural imaterial (PBI) é composto por três grandes grupos de recursos bioculturais imateriais (RBIs), a saber, recursos da diversidade biológica (biodiversidade), conhecimentos tradicionais (CTs) e expressões culturais tradicionais (ECTs). Há muito, o PBI dos países em desenvolvimento e de suas comunidades tradicionais vem sendo apropriado sistematicamente pelas instituições dos países industrializados, por meio da reivindicação de direitos de propriedade intelectual sobre produções intelectuais deles derivadas. Desde a década de 60, sem sucesso, os países em desenvolvimento vêm se empenhando em alcançar a adoção de regimes internacionais, apropriados à proteção dos RBIs. Com a entrada em vigor do Acordo sobre Aspectos dos Direitos de Propriedade Intelectual relacionados ao Comércio da Organização Mundial do Comércio (Acordo TRIPS), em 1995, os países em desenvolvimento se viram na situação de terem de conceder proteção legal a produções intelectuais derivadas de RBIs, ainda que estes tenham sido obtidos ilicitamente. Em contra-resposta, tais países se articulam em negociar regimes internacionais de proteção das diversas categorias de RBIs, no âmbito da Conferência das Partes da Convenção sobre Diversidade Biológica (CCDB), da Organização Mundial do Comércio (OMC) e da Organização Mundial da Propriedade Intelectual (OMPI). As propostas negociadas nesses foros se assentam sobre o obsoleto regime de propriedade intelectual e são julgadas adequadas a proteger os RBIs, porquanto se mostram hábeis a reprimir sua apropriação indébita por terceiros não-autorizados. Contudo, os negociadores dos países em desenvolvimento ainda não atentaram que os RBIs não se confundem com as produções intelectuais geradas no seio da sociedade ocidental, pois contam com três dimensões peculiares, a saber, as dimensões humana, ambiental e cultural, além da dimensão imaterial. Partindo do imperativo de salvaguardar, simultaneamente, as múltiplas dimensões do PBI, o presente trabalho propõe um quadro conceitual de desenvolvimento sustentável, competente a desempenhar o papel de um tipo ideal, composto pelos elementos fundamentais que qualquer regime de proteção dos RBIs deve encerrar. A aplicação do quadro conceitual viabiliza a identificação das fraquezas e fortalezas das principais propostas de regimes internacionais em negociação/construção; permitiu ainda identificar as virtudes e fraquezas de mecanismos de proteção calcados em direitos de propriedade, direitos de quase-propriedade, regimes de responsabilidade e regras de pliability. Por fim, a aplicação do quadro conceitual de desenvolvimento sustentável ensejou a identificação de um arranjo legal e institucional apto a tutelar o PBI, de modo a promover, simultaneamente, a repressão de sua apropriação indébita (i), o uso amplo e facilitado de grande parte dos RBIs para fins produtivos (ii); a geração de recursos materiais em favor da conservação/restauração da biodiversidade e da melhoria da qualidade de vida das comunidades tradicionais (iii), e a proteção de alguns valores culturais centrais, conservados pelas comunidades tradicionais (iv). / Intangible biocultural heritage (IBH) is made up of three groups of intangible biocultural resources (IBRs), namely, biological resources (BR), traditional knowledge (TK) and traditional cultural expressions (TCEs). Historically, institutions based in industrialized countries have systematically misappropriated the IBH belonging to communities in developing countries by means of claiming Intellectual Property Rights over products derived. Since the 1960s, developing countries have unsuccessfully endeavored to reach international agreements suitable for protecting IBRs. After the Agreement on Trade- Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS Agreement) came into effect in 1995, those countries have been obliged to grant legal protection to intellectual products derived from IBRs, even if those products resulted from acts of misappropriation. In response to this challenge, developing countries came together to negotiate international regimes to protect the different categories of IBRs at the Conference to the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP-CBD), before the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) as well as at the World Trade Organization (WTO). Their proposals, however, are rooted in the anachronistic intellectual property paradigm, ill-suited with respect to providing adequate tools to protect those resources. The negotiators representing the interests of developing countries have not realized yet that they should not treat IBRs in the same fashion as typical intellectual products originating from Western countries, provided IBRs are categorically distinct, featuring three particular dimensionshuman, environmental and culturalnot present in intellectual property as traditionally understood, in addition to the traditional intangible intellectual element. With the end of safeguarding the multiple dimension of IBH, the present work proposes na ideal sustainable development framework based upon the essential elements that any international regime devoted to protect IBH should embrace. The application of the sustainable development framework reveals the strengths and weaknesses of the most relevant proposals of international regimes currently under construction on the international level. Furthermore, it identifies the advantages and disadvantages of legal mechanisms based on property rights, quasi property rights, liability rules, and pliability rules. Finally, the application of this sustainable development framework outlines a concrete legal and institutional arrangement, capable of simultaneously (i) protecting IBRs against acts of misappropriation, (ii) fostering the wider and facilitated use of IBRs for productive purposes, (iii) generating economic resources in favor of the conservation/restoration of natural ecosystems and the improvement of the quality of life of local communities, (iv) as well as safeguarding certain core cultural values of traditional communities.

Este trabalho teve por objetivo aprofundar a reflexão e a compreensão sobre a lógica da relação sociedade-natureza nas culturas tradicionais, bem como sobre as contradições existentes nas políticas públicas territoriais de conservação da natureza, no que se refere à valorização do modo de vida tradicional. A pesquisa foi realizada a partir da análise dessas políticas e do estudo de um bairro rural tradicional caipira, o bairro dos Paulo, localizado no município de Ibiúna - São Paulo, na área de abrangência do Parque Estadual do Jurupará. O estudo de caso apresentou os elementos empíricos necessários para aprofundar a compreensão da problemática tratada pela pesquisa, ou seja, a maneira pela qual se processaram os conflitos sociais, em um contexto histórico, entre dois tipos de racionalidade e de modo de vida: um rural tradicional e, outro, contemporâneo, urbano-industrial. O desenvolvimento da pesquisa em campo se deu segundo o método da pesquisa participante, adotando-se a entrevista semiestruturada como instrumento de coleta de dados. A análise dos documentos legais e das entrevistas foi realizada com base no método de análise textual discursiva. Foi efetuado ainda o estudo comparativo do uso do solo, das glebas pertencentes à família dos Paulo, em diferentes momentos históricos: 1962, 1978 e 2009, a partir de dados secundários e de fotografias aéreas. Trata-se de um estudo geográfico de abordagem cultural crítica, em que foram definidas três categorias centrais de análise foram definidas: o território, o modo de vida tradicional e as políticas públicas territoriais de conservação da natureza. Categorias estas que, articuladas, possibilitaram identificar as formas de adaptação e a alta capacidade de resistência da cultura caipira frente aos impactos a que foi submetida, particularmente, com as transformações advindas do progresso brasileiro e, posteriormente, com a investida do Estado em criar uma Reserva Florestal, posteriormente transformada em um Parque Estadual em território caipira. A pesquisa demonstrou que os territórios tradicionais se configuram a partir de uma conduta ética diferenciada na relação sociedade-natureza. O modo de vida tradicional reflete saberes e valores que configuram um tipo específico de território, onde sua permanência no tempo, ao longo de sucessivas gerações, bem como a conservação da natureza são condições para a reprodução material e social das chamadas populações tradicionais. Na sua construção histórica, enquanto patrimônio territorial, delineia-se um tipo de gestão e de planejamento específicos, onde princípios, normas, critérios, formas de comando e hierarquias existem calcados em uma forte condição de autonomia, características estas incompatíveis com as diretrizes legais estabelecidas nos territórios de conservação da natureza. Território e modo de vida foram categorias a partir das quais se pôde, ainda, neste estudo, delinear dez premissas para a atuação do Estado junto aos territórios tradicionais caipiras, segundo seus próprios padrões de desenvolvimento, sem o que se entende que não há como falar em reconhecimento e respeito ao modo de vida tradicional. A coerência destas premissas foi discutida tendo-se por referência modelos teóricos de desenvolvimento econômico, considerados compatíveis com as características do território tradicional. / The present paper has the objective of deepening the reflection and comprehension on the logic of the relationship nature-society in traditional cultures, together with the understanding the contradictions of the territorial public policies related to environmental conservation, and to its esteem of the traditional way of life. The research was performed analysing policies and the traditional rural neighbourhood inhabitants, Paulos neighbourhood, located in the city of Ibiúna- São Paulo, in the area within the State Park of Jurupará. The case study managed to present the empirical elements required to expand the debate comprehension proposed by the research, meaning, the way social conflicts are treated in historical context, amid two types of rationality: the rural traditional and the contemporary, urban industrial. The field research was developed in the basis of participant observation method, adopting semi-structured interviews as instrument for data collection. The analysis of legal documents and interviews was performed in the textual and discourse analysis method. Following up a comparative study of soil usage was made in the land owned by Paulos family, in different historical periods: 1962, 1978, 2009 through secondary data and photographed areas. Overall, it is a geographic study with critical cultural approach, where three central categories of analyses are defined: the territory, the traditional way of life and the territorial public policies related to environmental conservation. This categories hinged upon each other, make possible the identification of adaptation formats and high persistence cultural capacity of the inhabitants, even when faced with the impacts they were submitted, specially by the transformations set up by the brazilian progress and, afterwards by the State intention to create a Reserve, later converted into State Park. The research demonstrated that traditional territories are based on a different code of ethical conduct on the relationship between society-nature. The traditional way of life reflects knowledge and value which translate to a specific type of territory. A territory where its time persistence, through successive generations, as well as through environmental conservation are conditions for the material and social reproduction of the, so called, traditional populations. In its historical construction, as territorial heritage, there is a specific type of outline for planning and management, where principles, norms, criteria, forms of command and hierarch are built upon a strong sense of autonomy, features incompatible with the legal regulations established for the environmental conservation territories. Territory and way of life are categories from which, in this study, ten premises for State action were proposed together with the territory inhabitants and according to their own pattern of development. Premises understood as essential elements for recognition and respect of the traditional way of life. The coherence of this premises were debated as reference to economic development theoretical models compatible with the traditional territory characteristics.

Semi-natural grasslands with traditional management are known to be very species-rich, with many plant species strongly associated with the habitat. The last century’s decline of semi-natural grasslands, as a result of land use change and abandonment, has made the remaining semi-natural grassland a high concern for conservation. Since management can be costly and the available resources often are limited, it is important to use the most beneficial management method for preserving and enhancing the biodiversity. One semi-natural grassland type of certain interest around the Baltic region are coastal grasslands. In this study, I investigated vascular plant species occurrence in ten managed coastal grasslands located in the Stockholm archipelago. The effect of recent land-uplift and future sea level rise on the ten coastal grasslands were analyzed as well. A major part of all ten grasslands had been subjected to the process of isostatic land-uplift the past 100 years. Five of the grasslands were currently managed by grazing and the other five were managed by traditional mowing. There was no significant difference in alpha and gamma diversity between the two management types. Though, higher biodiversity values, such as more different species found in total, higher amount of species typically linked to meadows and pastures, less succession species and more red-listed species, were found in the traditionally mowed grasslands. Furthermore, a sea level rise with 40 cm the next 100 years in the region would lead to loss of plant species diversity in the investigated coastal grasslands. One major concern is the limited areas upwards on the coastal grasslands for species to migrate to in the future, which is expected to primarily affect species associated with meadows and pastures. The study highlights the importance of open and managed grassland areas further up the coastal grasslands for local species to migrate to, if the sea level would rise as predicted by future climate scenarios. Albeit weak the results of this study indicate that traditional mowing generates higher biodiversity values compared to grazing, hence it should be the preferred management method in coastal grasslands in the Stockholm archipelago.

Magister Legum - LLM / This research work addresses the problem being faced by developing countries in the commercial exploitation of their traditional cultural expressions (TCEs) by third parties without giving due attribution to nor sharing benefits with the communities from which these TCEs originate. This problem stems from the inability of customary law systems which regulates life in such communities to adequately cater for the protection of these TCEs. The legal systems of the developing countries have also proven to be ineffective in the protection of TCEs from such misappropriation and unauthorized commercial exploitation. This mini-thesis examines how TCEs have been protected domestically through national legislation and internationally through treaties and proposes means by which they can be protected in a manner that would preserve them, while promoting the dissemination of those which can be shared without destroying their inherent nature. This mini-thesis thus explores avenues through which the protection of TCEs would contribute to economic and human development in developing countries. / South Africa