New research on CI's proposed updates for the UN Guidelines for Consumer Protection

We are pleased to announce a new programme of research to support
the amendments that we have developed to update the UN Guidelines
for Consumer Protection for the digital age and to promote access to
knowledge. This research, funded by a grant from IDRC, will
establish a sound evidence base to help support advocacy for the
adoption of the amendments, whilst also increasing the capacity of
the global consumer movement, particularly in the global South, to
engage in research-based advocacy to support policy changes at an
international level.

Attached is a draft background paper on the UN Guidelines
amendments, principally authored by CI consultant Robin Brown.  The
final version of this paper will be published in the proceedings of
"Consumers in the Information Society", of which those attending
will all receive a hard copy in Kuala Lumpur.  An updated version
will also eventually form the opening chapter of the volume of
research that we will use in advocating for the adoption of the
amendments to the Guidelines at an international level.

Selected CI members and partners in India, Brazil and South Africa
will lead that research, which will indicate how the inclusion of
A2K principles in the UN Guidelines would provide a more
comprehensive foundation for the treatment of A2K issues that affect
consumers in their countries. They will also be responsible for
liaison with other CI members in their countries and with their
governments, to partner in advocating for the adoption of the
amendments by the UN.

In addition to the lead researchers who will carry this dual role of
research and advocacy, opportunities will exist for other CI
members from around the world to contribute more focused research
on specific new Guidelines of particular relevance to their
country.  In particular, we are looking for CI members who can
provide improved treatment of each of the amendments in the second
part of the attached draft background paper, by adding references to
existing relevant legislation, case law, international agreements
and negotiations, standards, codes of practice, learned books and
articles.

Especially, we would like a member who can provide additional
background notes or a short case study, based on their domestic
experience, on the following instruments, which would be
incorporated into the draft background paper or supplement it in a
break-out section:

• the EU Consumer Rights Directive (Directive 2011/83/EU);
• the Canadian Copyright Modernisation Act (Bill C-11).

Some funding support may be available to qualifying members who
are approved to participate.  If you would like to contribute,
please contact me after reading through the attached draft
background paper.  Future updates on the UN Consumers Guidelines
campaign will be posted to a dedicated mailing list for that
project, so if you are not already part of it and would like to
join, please also let me know.

--
Dr
Jeremy Malcolm
Project Coordinator
Consumers
International
Kuala Lumpur Office for
Asia-Pacific and the Middle East
Lot 5-1 Wisma WIM, 7 Jalan Abang Haji Openg, TTDI, 60000 Kuala
Lumpur, Malaysia
Tel: +60 3 7726 1599
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