CI Consumer Justice and Protection programme

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CI Consumer Justice and Protection programme
Indrani Thuraisingham CI Office for Asia-Pacific
and the Middle East
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Background

• CIs work on CP at 3 levels international,
  regional and national
• Two-fold approach
• Institutional
• Lobbying

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Relevance

• Lack of legal basis for consumer rights
• Weak enforcement of CP laws and avenues
• No recognition of the right of associations
• No resources to maintain consumer associations

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Rationale

• Lack of consolidated database of resources
• Limited advancement of CP measures
• Narrow scope of UN Guidelines
• Limited access to justice
• Weak designated CP Government agency/ independent
  consumer associations

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Objectives of the CJP Programme

• Facilitating development and enhancement of
  legal/enforcement framework
• Enabling easy access to database of resources
• Integrating CP measures in the work of IGOs
• Strengthening global CP architecture
• Capacitating CI members on access to justice

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Implementation strategies

• Global coordination by CIAPME with other CI
  offices
• Establishment and consultation through CJP Expert
  committee

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CJP and strategic components

• Component 1 Global Consumer Protection
  Architecture
• Research on CPM Consumer issues
• Engagement with UNCTAD
• Expert Committee on CJP/ UNGCP network meetings
• Campaigns and Trainings

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CJP and strategic components contd

• Component 2 Sustainable Consumer Organization
  Business Models
• Research on Business Funding Models
• Capacity Buidling of Cos
• Component 3 Partnerships with Intergovernmental
  organization
• Component 4 Development and enhancement of
  legal/enforcement framework on CP

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CJP and strategic components contd

• Component 5 Asset Library (Database of resources
  on CJP)
• Communication tools
• Sharing of information and linking to database
• Component 6 Complaints handling by CO / CP
  organizations

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Expectations from members

• Actively support and follow CIs work on CJP as
  well as share information
• Take part in the research and conduct advocacy at
  the national level
• Networking with relevant agencies
• Handle consumer complaints

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CJP Programme for 2013

• 1. Strengthening global consumer protection
  architecture
• Initiate the process to review effectiveness of
  CP measures in at least two countries
• Conduct analysis of the Global survey on CP
  measures
• Joint publication of CUTS and CI on CP Regimes in
  the world
• Global Expert Committee meeting on CJP

     
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2. Support and empower sustainable consumer
organization business models.

• Complete final phase of global survey analysis of
  the sustainable consumer organisations business
  models
• Capacity Building of COs by conducting at least
  one online training
• 3. Develop partnership with IGOs
• Engagement with UNCTAD
• Establishing at least one partnership with IGOs
• Drafting and submitting project proposals

     
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4. Enhance legal framework on CP

• Provide technical assistance to members
• Report on recommendations for review of UNGCP
• 5. Establish Asset Library
• Database of Resources
• Highlight member stories
• 6. Capacitate CI members on consumer redress
• Developing guidelines/ standards for consumer
  redress

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• CJP programme is an excellent opportunity to
  facilitate co-operation between CI and its
  members and relevant consumer protection agencies
  to collaborate on joint initiatives for consumer
  protection.
• - indrani_at_ciroap.org