The Indonesian
Traditional Wisdom Network (ITWN)
Jaringan
Kearifan Tradisional Indonesia (JKTI)
Profile
Summary
Background
Traditional wisdom is a system in traditional communities’
livelihood, which usually covers social, political, cultural, economic and
environmental aspects of the communities.
Traditional wisdom values have been maintained and used within the
communities for generations, for which reason the values are dynamic,
sustainable, and accepted by all community members. These values, which are
manifested in the customary law, knowledge, skill, and ethics, have for
generations helped the communities to maintain the sustainability of their
environment.
Traditional wisdom values have developed through traditional
communities’ experiences with various social, political, cultural, economic, and
environmental problems. From failures and gains in these experiences,
traditional communities have invented values and practices that they think work
best for their livelihood. The community holds the intellectual property right
to these values; they are not aimed at
commercial purposes.
Unfortunately, focusing on economic development has driven
Indonesia into the circle of globalization, which has forced the country to
adopt global economic policies. The adoption of global economic policies has
left little to no space for the accommodation of local values. Capitalism and the global market, which focuses only on the benefit and loss ratio, work in
opposition to the perspective of traditional wisdom values, and slowly but
surely these have put aside the involvement of traditional communities and the
contribution of their traditional wisdom values in the development.
Our vision is The realization of a social order based on a
diversity of cultural roots and our mission is to Preserve and strengthen traditionally
wisdom to be the basis for just and sustainable community life.
Based on this problem, the Indonesia Traditional Wisdom Network (ITWN) has developed a series of activities:
1.
Empowerment
of traditional communities base on IPRs
2.
Research/studies
on traditional communities’ Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs)
3.
Advocacy
for IPRs-related cases
4.
Advocacy
for IPRs-related policies
5.
Develop
the local economy system
6.
Raise
public and decision-makers awareness and support for traditional communities’
IPRs
HISTORY
ITWN was firstly established on February 9, 1999, at the
Seloliman Environmental Education Center, Trawas, Mojokerto, East Java,
Indonesia by 18 NGOs: PPLH Seloliman, Walda, Evergreen Indonesia, PPLH Bali,
Sankari, Lembaga Riset Advokasi, ELSPPAT, YBL Masta, YPKMK, INRIK, YCHI, LPMA,
YCM, LP2MD, Yayasan Dian Tama, Patasarlingkara, Gugus Analisis, and Yaseru. Currently, ITWN has 61 member organizations
and individuals in 11 provinces in Indonesia.
Legal status by Dian Trianawaty Law and Advocate office, number; 01/2008,
October 17,2008.
ACTIVITIES
its main programs are 1) Indigenous Knowledge-based
conflict resolution 2) Empowerment of traditional institutions 3) Indigenous
Knowledge-based biodiversity conservation 4) Indigenous Knowledge-based
technology selection 5) Indigenous Knowledge-based economic development and 6) Legitimacy of local communities’
Intellectual Property Rights. The
network programs are conducted through several activities: 1) Member Capacity
Building. Network member organizations and individuals are key elements of the
network movement, and building their capacity means enhancing their capability
to implement the network agenda which in turn will strengthen the network
movement. The capacity-building programs have been done through various
activities: professional training, community organizing, village meetings
2)Strengthening the Regional Secretariats. Currently, ITWN has 8 regional
secretariats in 11 provinces in Indonesia: (1) Nusa Tenggara (2) Jawa Timur and
Bali, (3) Jawa Tengah, (4) DKI and Jawa Barat, (5) Kalimantan Barat, (6)
Kalimantan Selatan, (7) Sumatera Barat,(8) Sulawesi. 3) Strengthening the National
Secretariat. The National Secretariat is designed to disseminate
information to the member organizations, establish campaign and advocacy
strategies at the national and international levels, and to conduct fundraising
activities.
In the period of 1999-2004, ITWN has implemented several
programs: networking consolidation, promotion,
and campaign, case, and policy
advocacy, as well as research and
study. Starting from the year 2000 we
have conducted a program for the legitimacy of traditional IP (Intelectual
Property Rights). In order to raise
awareness on the issue, TWNI has
conducted 2000 a National Workshop on "Impact of the Implementation of
the TRIPs-WTO Agreement and Decentralization on Sustainable Development and
Biodiversity Conservation". In
2001, a series of follow-up workshops on the issue have been conducted in 7
cities in the country.
In 2002 and 2003 respectively, we submitted a claim to the
government to recognize ”Toraja Coffee”, a brand of traditional coffee produced
by the Toraja community in South Sulawesi; and ”Pasak Bumi", a brand of
traditional medicine produced by the Dayak community in Kalimantan, as the
traditional communities' intellectual property rights. This claim was expressed
in our letters of protest to the respective government agencies and private
sectors, and supported by our participation in the traditional IPRs-related
forums and discussions held by the government.
In 2004-2017, we focus on internal consolidation members
and network programs. And strengthening the local community in some villages in
Indonesia by field research and empowering the local community.
In 2018-2022, we focus on
strengthening the local communities in villages in Indonesia by organic
agriculture development base on the genetic resources, traditional knowledge, and Folklore in their landscape.
Contact
Person :
Rasdi Wangsa
The National Coordinator rasdiwangsa@gmail.com
National
Secretariat
:
Perumahan Bukit Cimanggu City, Blok R5, No 8
Mekar wangi, Tanah Sareal Bogor, Jawa Barat, Indonesia. 16313
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