Intergovernmental Group of Experts on Consumer Protection to meet for the first time

An Intergovernmental Group of Experts (IGE) on consumer protection will meet for the first time in Geneva next month to begin overseeing the implementation of the United Nations Guidelines on Consumer Protection (UNGCP). The IGE, which was established as part of the 2015 revisions to the UNGCP, will be a global forum where government agencies can discuss progress in consumer protection and agree joint actions.

Consumers International  sign a Memorandum of Understanding with UNCTAD

The meeting will only be open to government officials and a small handful of international organisations. Consumers International will be representing our members and Amanda Long, Consumers International Director General, will be speaking at the meeting.

What will be discussed at the meeting?

Alongside topics such as the contribution of consumer protection to the Sustainable Development Goals, capacity building for consumer protection and the collaborative economy, delegates will also discuss Consumers International’s proposal for the United Nations to recognise World Consumer Rights Day as an official international day. This is in no small part thanks to the excellent lobbying Consumers International's members have been engaged in over the last six months. 

The celebration of World Consumer Rights Day first started in 1983 as an initiative from Consumers International and is now observed in around 90 countries across the world. Formal recognition of World Consumer Rights Day as an International Day can help put consumer rights on the map of even more organisations, governments and media outlets. It can help to raise awareness by engaging more people, in more activities, in more countries.