Article 21. Awareness-Raising

This Article 21 of the Nagoya Protocol includes a clear and unconditional obligation for Parties to raise awareness about the Protocol and ABS issues, providing an indicative list of activities that can be undertaken to fulfil this obligation. Article 21 builds upon the obligations found in the CBD on communication, education and public awareness and exchange of information. In the light of the importance of awareness-raising activities for the effective implementation of the Protocol, the Intergovernmental Committee preparing the ground for the Protocol's entry into force has already discussed the need to develop an awareness-raising strategy. As Article 21 does no raise particular interpretative difficulties, this chapter discusses the specific relevance of this provision for the implementation of the Protocol provisions related to indigenous and local communities, and then offers final observations on the linkages between Article 21 and other provisions of the Protocol.Keywords: ABS issues; awareness-raising strategy; CBD; Intergovernmental Committee; Nagoya Protocol