[CivilSoc] Seeking Partners--Grodno (Belarus) Regional NGO for Supporting Consumers

[Moderator]

From: "������� �������" <gropot@mail.ru>
My name is Vladimir Sovtsa. I represent Grodno Regional NGO for Supporting
Consumers. The defending of consumers' rights is very essential problem in
our country. We will be glad to coordinate our activity with another
consumers organizations, to exchange experience and to know more how to
improve our work.
A brief description of our organization follows below.  There is more
information about us if you please.
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The support of consumers is a duty of democratic societies and states. This
problem receives much attention in all highly developed countries as it is
one of the most actual and burning issues for the people of all over the
world. The consumers defense level is an important and essential index of
social and economic progress. It is not surprising that the process of
transformation of economics and politics in Belarus has highlighted the
problems connected with the person as a consumer of material and cultural
wealth.
Grodno Regional NGO for Supporting Consumers is an independent,
non-governmental, non-commercial organization created on voluntary
principles on a base of community interests for articulating and defending
its members' and other citizens' social and economic rights as consumers of
goods, works and services. Grodno Regional NGO for Supporting Consumers was
created during the Constituent Conference in the 25th of January 2000 and
was registered by the decision of the Grodno administration of justice in
the 17th of April 2000.
Twenty-two inhabitants of Grodno region took part in the Constituent
Conference, among them the representatives of Slonim, Zelva, Smorgon, Mosty,
Ostrove, Lida, Shutchin, Volkovysk, Grodno districts and the town of Grodno.
A member of our organization must be an inhabitant of Grodno region. From
the moment of registration the number of members has achieved 109 persons
who fulfill the tasks the Council of organization has defined. The activists
fulfill their work on a voluntary principle.
In our work we are guided by the Constitution of Belarus, the United Nations
Assembly Resolution "The leading principles for consumers support," and
Belorussian legislation currently in force.
The next main priorities have been determined during the organization
functioning:
1) The physical safety of goods and foodstuffs:
a) the executing of quality control for goods and foodstuffs produced and
sold;
b) the environment pollution as prevention from ecologically clean
foodstuffs production;
c) collection and distribution of information about the goods produced in
Belarus;
d) notification of corporations and government about foodstuffs and goods
that are not safe with the purpose of withdrawing them from the trade.
2) Assistance of consumers in defending their economic interests:
a) assistance of honest and effective competition between producers for the
purpose of the widest choice of foodstuffs and goods by the minimal prices;
b) the defense of consumers from standard one-sided contracts.
3. Assistance of consumers in getting compensation:
a) the settlement of discords before court order;
b) the settlement of discords in court;
c) compensation of pecuniary and moral damage.
4. The programs of education and information:
a) operating of hot line "Help for consumers" by name;
b) organizing the lectures, seminars, conferences, actions, editing
consumers paper;
c) organizing the researches, competitions for determining the best producer
of the year;
5. Regional, republic and international cooperation:
a) dealing together with governmental structures, nongovernmental
organizations and Mass media;
b) increasing the number of representatives in Grodno region and attracting
more active persons for Statute tasks fulfilling;
c) making contacts with consumers organizations all over the world;
d) studying of international experience of consumers movement on the purpose
to improve consumers defense mechanism in Belarus.
Grodno Regional NGO for Supporting Consumers is an important connecting link
between producers of goods and consumers on another side. The organization
takes active position in defending rights of Grodno region inhabitants as a
consumers  of goods and services. Thanks to our successful work a lot of
conflicts between producers and consumers  were settled. More than twenty
persons get a phone consultation and more than five persons get legal help
in the office daily. The priority direction of organization activity is
achievement of harmony between the producers and consumers.
Grodno Regional NGO for Supporting Consumers looks with confidence in future
acting according with the strategic and tactic planes worked out in details.
The strict executing of plans reflected on the results of organization
activity fruitfully. Our organization enjoys the popularity and respect
among the citizens and firms of Grodno region Grodno Regional NGO for
Supporting Consumers is ready for fruitful and benefiting business and
profitable cooperation with fund on all branches.
Information about the coming competition of projects and requests for
applications shoudl be sent to the address: 230028, 1a Centralhaya st.,
Malachovichi, Grodno district, Grodno region, Republic of Belarus.