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Developing World"
29. The Council of State Support to NGOs under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan -"
The Independent Consumers Union (ICU) of Azerbaijan was established on January 31 1997. It is a non-governmental not-for-profit organization.
Mission
- To defend rights of consumers
- To protect the marketplacefrom products harmful for life and environment;
To contribute to the development of market economy in the country;
To educate public on their consumer rights.
Membership: 21,150
Satellite district offices: 30
Management of ICU:
(Scheme)
Members of Board:
 1. Eyub Huseynov
He was born in 1947. He graduated Department of Mathematic of State Pedagogy Institute of Azerbaijan. He studied in Europe Consumer Centre. At present he is a chairman of The Independent Consumers Union (ICU).
 2. Adil Jamil
He was born in 1954. He graduated Department of Journalism Baku State University, he is poet, and he is candidate of philological sciences. At present he is department chief of “Adabiyyat” newspaper. He’s senior academic worker of ANSA Folklore Institute.
 3. Aydin Karimov
He was born in 1974. He graduated State Academy of Oil of Azerbaijan. At present he is a director of Caspian Invest LTD Company.
4. Alisafa Mehdiyev
He was born in 1962. He graduated Department of Journalism Baku State University. He’s veteran of Karabakh war. At present he is a present of “Ulus” honorable awards fund.
 5. Habil Iskenderov.
He was born 1973. He graduated in 1996 Department of Philosophy of Social Sciences and Psychology Faculty of Baku State University, in 2007 Faculty of Law of Azerbaijan International University. At present He's arbitrator in Azerbaijan International Arbitration Court.
Member of Supervision-Inspection Commission
 1. Tamilla Zeynalova
She was born in 1936. She graduated Azerbaijan Oil and Chemistry Institute and Moscow patent-licensing investigations institute. She’s occupied with social activity.
 2. Ilgar Aliyev
He was born in 1962. He’s high-educated. At present he is a teacher in Azberbaijan Engineering and Construction University.
 3. Saida Abdulvahabova
She was born in 1947. She graduated Baku State University, she’s doctor of physics-mathematics sciences. She’s occupied with pedagogy activity. She’s a director of Investigation Centre for Female Problems non-governmental organization.
Sources of Income
Commercial and business structures as well as a membership fee are not a financial source for the ICU. The ICU is supported through grants for implementation of projects from different organizations.
Provides free legal consultation service for population.
Donors and Funding:
U.S.A Embassy Eurasia Foundation, ISAR/Azerbaijan humanitarian organization, UN agencies, Regional Ecology Center, German Technical Collaboration, USAID, TASIS, British Embassy, UNICEF, World Bank & Ministry of Communications and Information Technologies of Azerbaijan Republic, European Comission, The Council of State Support to NGOs under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
Implemented Projects:
1. U.S. Embassy - “Organization development”
2. Eurasian Foundation “Increasing public awareness about consumer rights”
3. Eurasian Foundation “Caucasian consumers”.
4. ISAR/Azerbaijan “Ecological safety of products and services”.
5. ISAR/Azerbaijan “Dynamics of environmental pollution with plastic cans”.
6. Eurasia Foundation “TV program Consumer's Voice”.
7. UN “Accounting Courses for Refugee Consumers”.
8. ISAR/Azerbaijan “Broadening Consumer Movement Activities”.
9. Eurasia Foundation “Information Bank for Consumers in the Market (Bazaar)”.
10. Eurasia Foundation “Consumer Movement in the Southern Caucasus”.
11. Eurasia Foundation “Lab for Food Testing”.
12. Regional Environmental Centre for Caucasus (Switzerland) “Independent Control of Safety and Ecological Purity of Foodstuffs”.
13. UNICEF “Monitoring of the Market for Presence of Iodine in Salt”.
14. German Technical Collaboration (GTZ) “Public Education on Safety of Food Products in Frontier Regions”.
15. UNICEF “Monitoring and Advocating the Use of Iodinated Salt on the Market and in Households”.
16. USAID “The Role of Civil Society in Combating Monopoly”.
17. UNICEF “Monitoring of market with iron fortified flood (flour) and community awareness on combating with iron deficiency anemia”. 18. UNICEF “USI and IDD public awareness campaign and monitoring of usage of iodized salt at the local markets and family levels”.
19. UNICEF “Monitoring of Infant Feeding inclusive Breast-milk Substitutes and commercial of the Market in accordance with BF National Law and International Code on Breast milk Substitutes”.
20.UNICEF ”Monitoring of the country market and the commercial market (TV, Radio, publication material) implementation of the law on “iodine deficiency”
21.UNICEF- “Monitoring of the country market and commercial market (TV, radio, publication material etc.) On implementation of the law on “infant feeding”, public awareness campaign and enriching people`s
22.British Embassy-”Increasing role of the civil society in the struggle against the corruption”
23.WHO-Investigation of smuggled tobacco circulation in Azerbaijan
24. European Comission - Increasing Access to Justice Through Consumer Rights Awareness Campaign and Developing Consumer Advice and Mediation Centres
25. Eurasia Foundation - “The public consumer initiative on the increasing of the food safety at Southern Caucasus"
26. World Bank & Ministry of Communications and Information Technologies of Azerbaijan Republic- «Website on consumer rights»
27. Eurasia Foundation – “Development of Regional Policy Research on Food Safety and Standards and the European Neighborhood Policy”
28. European Comission - "Consumer Organisations and the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety: Protecting the Consumer's Right to a Healthy Environment in the The consumer initiative on protection of biodiversity" 30. European Comission - "Empowering municipalities to better serve their constituents in relation to social and environmental rights"
Collaboration with the Parliament
ICU participated in issuing the following laws in the Parliament:
1. The law of the Azerbaijan Republic on food products in 2000;
2. The law of the Azerbaijan Republic on mandatory insurance of passengers in 2000;
3. The law of the Azerbaijan Republic on tobacco and tobacco products in 2001;
4. The law of the Azerbaijan Republic on prevention of diseases related to iodine deficiency in the salt in 2002.
Collaboration with the Mass Media
ICU maintains close relationships with the media and every day about 10-12 media agencies meet with ICU staff to obtain daily information about progress and challenges in ICU’s work. To date, about 70 different newspapers have published 4500 articles, 300 TV and 500 radio programs have been broadcast about ICU’s activities.
ICU recently (2003) started publishing its newspaper A Consumer’s Voice again. The newspaper is free for members of ICU.
Collaboration with the Government
The ICU president is a member of the National Commission on Nutrition and Micronutrient Deficiency of the Ministry of Health as well as the working group on reduction of poverty inthe Ministry of Economic Development.
Collaboration with International NGOs
ICU has been a member of the Consumer International since 1998. It is also a member of the Caucasian Federation of Consumer Rights, WANGO (2005), IBFAN (2005).
Moreover, ICU collaborates with 125 consumer organizations all over the world.
Collaboration with Local NGOs
ICU is a member of the Forum of Republic NGO. The ICU president is a member of the executive board of the Forum as well as the executive boards of 6 other NGOs.
Achievements
1. 1999-2002: Anti-tobacco activity under ICU’s initiative. As a result, changes have been made in the Azerbaijan Republic Law about Commercials, and tobacco advertisement was banned. The country banned production and sale of cigarettes without filters (The Cabinet of Ministries’ act of 10.31.2001). Six types of cigarettes were removed from the consumer market; and for the first time eradication of harmful products (i.e., burning) had been carried out.
2. About 20 types of harmful products including vodka brands White Bear, Black Death and a low quality drink Borjomihave been removed from the market.
3. Twenty three lottery companies were shut down and falsedraws were eliminated.
4. Agencies deliveringfake (imitation) salt to the market have been identified and reported to government and these agencies were shut down.
5. As a result of ICU’s initiative, for the first time a course on basics of consumer rights has been taught at the Cooperative University.
Court Trials
For the first time in the history of the country a consumer’s rights have been defended in
the court. This case set a precedent for future trials of consumer-related problems/violations in the court.
Representing Consumer Rights
To date, ICU has helped about 95% of consumers who sought help from the organization to regain their consumer rights that were violated for various reasons. In contrast to other consumer agencies functioning in the country ICU did not accept any honorarium for the completed work.
International Activities
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№
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Name of assembly
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Republic, city
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Date
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1
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Summer programmer in European Comity Consumer Law
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France
Lowvain-la-Neuve
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07.07-17.07.1998
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2
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Codex TRAINING WORKSHOP
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Poland
Warsaw
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25.11-27.11.1999
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3
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16th World Congress of Consumer International
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South Africa
Durban
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13-17.11.2000
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4
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Meeting by consumer education
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Kazakhstan
Alma-Ata
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19-23-09.2001
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5
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The international conference by the consumer right
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Russia
Kostroma
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24-26-04.2002
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6
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Consumer International Members Regional meeting
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İtalia
Rome
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24-27.2002
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7
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Consumer Protection in the Electronic Age; Institutions, Analysis and Implementation
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Ukraine
Kiev
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16-18.09.2003
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8
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17th World Congress Consumer International
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Portugal
Lisbon
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13-17.10.2003
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9
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Economic UN Commission for Europe Working Party on Technical Harmonization and Standardization Policies
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Geneva
Switzerland
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11-12.11.2003
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10
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Regional FAO/NGOs Consultation in Europe
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France
Montpellier
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3-4.05.2004
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11
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Micronutrient Workshop for Countries of Eastern Europe and the Caucasus
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Turkish
Ankara
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13-17.09.2004
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12
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Adequate and Affordable Hosing for All; Research, Policy, Practice
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Canada
University of Toronto
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24-27.06.2004
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13
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Opening Conference Institution Building Partnership Programmer (IBPP)
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Ukraine
Kiev
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19-20.06.2006
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14
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Research for Action on the FCTC Workshop
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Canada
Ottawa
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7-11.05.2007
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15
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18th World Congress Consumer International
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Australia
Sidney
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29.10-01.11.2007
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16
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Global Capacity Building and
Induction Workshop
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London
England
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07-09.04.2008
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17
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“Special American Business Internship Training Program (SABIT)”
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Washington
USA
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13.09-04.10.2008
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| 18 |
Jakarta workshop on regional campaigning/advocacy training |
Indonesia - Jakarta |
10-12.12.2008 |
| 19 |
Studying of municipalities experience |
Turkey - Stanbul |
28.02-06.2009 |
Local Activities
1999 March 15-Street rally on the International Consumer Day
2000 March 15- Street rally on the International Consumer Day
To date ICU has held 20 press-conferences and 16 seminars across the country.
Future Plans
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