March 2017 was an incredible month for Consumers International and our members. I would like to say a huge thanks to everyone for your overwhelming support in making World Consumer Rights Day and the G20 Consumer Summit such a resounding success. 
 
By working together we have placed the need for a better digital world on the international agenda. This is an important first step and a starting point for something bigger.
 
Read on for an update on the G20 Digital Ministers’ statement and two exciting announcements regarding our new collaborative agreement with UN FAO, and Anne Fransen Fund 2017. Our Member News section is dedicated to all of the amazing achievements from last month’s World Consumer Rights Day.

All good wishes,


Amanda Long
Director General,
Consumers International

• What are the risks or harms that children face in an increasingly connected world? In our latest blog, children’s online rights expert Dr Rachel O’Connell examines the issues through the perspective of recent reports about connected toys.
• Consumer experts from across the Atlantic met in Washington DC on 21st March for the 17th annual TACD forum which is coordinated by Consumers International. The forum focussed on developing a positive consumer agenda for international trade deals. Find out more.
• We are pleased to invite applications for the 2017 round of the Green Action Fund (GAF). The fund is open to all members in developing and transitional economies. Members are invited to apply for a grant to carry out consumer awareness and advocacy activities under the theme 'Safer, more sustainable food for all'. Find out more and how to apply. 

Europe & North America

• Consumer Reports in the U.S.A. has launched a digital standard initiative to help guide companies to safeguard consumers’ security and privacy when designing mobile apps and software. The standard will enable testing organisations to test, evaluate and report on whether products protect consumer security and privacy.
• CI members Altroconsumo (Italy), DECO (Portugal) and OCU (Spain) have launched a global petition ‘My data is mine’, asking for better privacy, security and control for consumer data.
• Test-Achats in Brussels, Belgium has launched a campaign, ‘CyberSimple’, in collaboration with Google to help inform consumers and improve their online security.

Latin America

• ASPEC and the municipality of San Isidro in Lima, Peru organised an interactive exhibition 'ConsuApp' to show consumers the applications that regulators and companies have been developing in Peru in favour of consumers.
• Pro Consumidor, our Government Supporter in the Dominican Republic, announced the creation of an Internet conciliation mechanism ‘Pro Concilia’ for the settlement of disputes between suppliers of goods and services.
• CDC in El Salvador met with the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority in partnership with ENLACES and Defensoría del Consumidor to request the Legislative Assembly of El Salvador to reform the Consumer Protection Law with the aim of creating greater digital protection of consumer information.

Asia Pacific

• The Hong Kong Consumer Council released the results of a survey on data security, providing tips for consumers to choose a domestic CCTV technology as well as information about data protection and security.
• Consumers Korea, the National Council of Consumer Organisations and the Friedrich Ebert Foundation hosted a seminar in Seoul that discussed current issues in the digital economy between Germany and Korea. Two vice-ministers of the German Ministry of Justice and Consumer Protection and Korean consumer activists from eight Korean consumer organisations participated in the event.
• Consumer Voice in India and Google have co-written a special feature on the issue of building a better digital world through access to safer internet. The article is available on the Consumer Voice website and in their English and Hindi magazines.

Middle East

• In Oman, The Public Authority for Consumer Protection organised youth awareness initiatives to help inform young adults of their consumer rights in the digital age. They worked with school students and conducted lectures on e-commerce and how students can protect themselves when shopping online.
• The Sudanese Consumers Protection Society held a press conference and TV interview on Sudan TV to raise awareness of digital consumer rights.
• The Yemeni Association for Consumer Protection coordinated a TV programme and seminar with guest speakers to highlight and inform consumers about consumer rights in the digital age.

Africa

• The Consumer Council of Zimbabwe hosted a symposium with discussion papers from the Ministry of ICT, Bankers Association, Information Society Initiatives and Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe. They focused on the cost of services, policies, awareness and what the future holds for consumers.
• In Senegal, ADEC highlighted the need for quality connections to the internet at an affordable price. They highlighted the issue publicly through exhibitions and held a discussion panel with experts, consumers, government representatives, media and Senegal service providers.
• NATCOF in the Seychelles supported WCRD by meeting and talking directly with consumers. They distributed awareness raising posters and leaflets to members of the public and took part in radio and television interviews.

• In the USA, KFC announced that they will be ending the use of medically important antibiotics in their entire chicken supply by the end of 2018. This is a significant victory for the #AntibioticsOffTheMenu campaign in the US!
• In Europe, tech giants Facebook, Twitter and Google have been ordered to comply with regional rules after concerns over variety of potential consumer rights breaches.