Greeting Readers.
Two years ago, when I was in junior high school, I was selected to attend the Conference of Parties 11 (CoP 11) hosted by the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), a part of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) in Hyderabad, India. The agenda of the conference was set as ?Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising out of their Utilization?. As a youth segment delegate to this prestigious conference, I was asked to present the view of today?s youth on this agenda.

In article 15 of the CBD, principles and obligations that are to be followed by Member countries of the UN with respect to Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) of resources on the basis of mutually agreed terms have been laid down. Since genetic resources are used for a variety of purposes ranging from basic research to the development products that make life easy, all countries are to create conditions favourable for the access of genetic resources found in their countries and make use of them for environmentally sound processes.  All users, be it individuals, educational centres, governments or private companies, utilizing such genetic resources should do so in a way that poses no harm to the ecological balance of the ecosystems to which these utilized genetic resources belong.

Benefits arising from the utilization of such genetic resources include may include new biological discoveries, development of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), biotechnological advances and economic return from commercialization of these resources. In order to further implement the ABS regulations a Working Group on ABS was designed which at the CoP 10 Summit held in Nagoya, Japan designed an International Regime on ABS.  This International Regime sets out a clear and transparent framework for sharing of genetic resources. It also aims at finding ways to reduce poverty and ensure sustainable development in biodiversity rich countries by the sharing of economic gains from the use of genetic resources.  This International Regime has also helped to reduce Bio piracy (the use of genetic material illegally without the prior consent of the required authority and in violation with the establish law).

According to the latest reports released by CBD post the CoP 11, biodiversity issues are being mainstreamed with appropriate policies being implemented in many countries effectively. Decision making with regard to the environmentally sound use of resources is based on scientific research along with a precautionary approach.  Biodiversity should be valued, used in the best interest of the people and ecosystems, and protected to the maximum extent possible to avoid any future problems that may lead to an environmental crisis.

The CoP 11 bought together 6000 delegates from Member nations of the UN, NGOs, Business groups, and Youth Forums. All issues relating to Biodiversity protection as mentioned under the Millennium Development Goals (MDG 2015) were thoroughly discussed.