UNCTAD's Technical Cooperation Programme on Consumer Protection for Latin America: COMPAL

J Consum Policy (Dordr). 2022;45(1):135-147. doi: 10.1007/s10603-022-09502-x. Epub 2022 Feb 5.

Abstract

UNCTAD's mandate is threefold. It facilitates consensus building, provides research and analysis and offers technical assistance and capacity building to developing countries and countries with economies in transition. Since the 1980s, UNCTAD has been providing technical assistance and capacity building for those same countries in adopting or revising consumer protection legislation and policies, also to increase complementarity with trade and industrial policies and as a means of achieving Sustainable Development Goals. UNCTAD's COMPAL Programme has had a significant and positive impact in improving consumer protection regimes and institutions in Latin America. The EU and UNCTAD should partner in continuing and expanding COMPAL in the years to come for the benefit of Latin American and European consumers.

Keywords: COMPAL; Consumer Protection; European Union; Latin America; UNCTAD.