The development of an inclusive and sustainable e-commerce requires boosting consumers' trust in the digital economy and ensuring their rights are preserved and protected. Indeed the 2017 CIGI-Ipsos Global Survey on Internet Security and Trust shows that among consumers who never shop online, the key reason they do not is a lack of trust.
Since 1985, the United Nations Guidelines for Consumer Protection are a valuable set of principles for setting out the main characteristics of effective consumer protection legislation, enforcement institutions and redress systems and for assisting interested Member States in formulating and enforcing domestic and regional laws, rules and regulations that are suitable to their own economic and social and environmental circumstances, as well as promoting international enforcement cooperation among Member States and encouraging the sharing of experiences in consumer protection.
The latest revision of the Guidelines in 2015 included for the first time a set of recommendations for businesses so that they deal fairly and honestly with consumers at all stages of their relationship, and that consumer protection becomes an integral part of the business culture.
Protecting consumers in the digital economy is a shared responsibility among all stakeholders - governments, businesses and consumers. In the digital era, businesses that fulfil their consumer protection obligations and further integrate consumer protection in their policies thrive, thus contributing to governments' development policies in the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. It is a virtuous cycle that needs to be enhanced.
This session will discuss the role of business engagement in the protection of online consumers. It will highlight best practices and identify areas of improvement of the cooperation between all stakeholders concerned in building a digital world consumers can trust.
Moderator:
· Ms. Teresa Moreira, Head Competition and Consumer Policies Branch, UNCTAD
Speakers:
· Ms Amanda Long, Director General, Consumers International
· Ms. Lisa Felton, Head, Services Regulation, Vodafone
· Mr. Babatunde Irukera, Director General, Consumer Protection Agency, Nigeria
· Dr. Ying Yu, Law Faculty, Wolfon College, Oxford University
· Mr. Paul Nagle, Director, International Regulatory Affairs, Alibaba
· Ms. Kimberley Botwright, Programme Lead, Economic Governance, Geneva World Economic Forum
For more information, please see:
· UNCTAD Manual on Consumer Protection
· UNCTAD background note on Consumer protection in electronic commerce
