Consumer rights and representation

Consumers International is committed to upholding the rights of consumers in the information society, and ensuring that their interests are well represented on communications and access to knowledge issues. Our activities in this area are:

• Seeking the revision of the UN Guidelines for Consumer Protection, to help rebalance global copyright norms through an international instrument. With funding from the Open Society Institute (OSI) and IDRC, we plan to develop proposed amendments to the Guidelines in consultation with our members and A2K scholars and activists, and to introduce this to UNCTAD for intergovernmental approval.
• In May 2011 CI also commenced a broader campaign on Consumer Representation in the Information Society, to resource our members to fill gaps in representation for consumers within UN and other multilateral bodies that deal with Internet, communications and access to knowledge issues.

Previously:

• An ad-hoc global campaign against the lack of transparency in the negotiations around a new Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement came together through the grassroots initiatives of our members during 2010.