Legal Aspect of e-Commerce for SIDS 2023 (LAEC)
Among small island developing States, information and communications technology and e-commerce have significant potential to support participation in international and regional markets, build resilience and help better recover from disasters. Despite this potential, the digital economy remains in an early phase of development in small island developing States. These countries face similar challenges, such as in improving access to affordable digital infrastructure, building adequate legal frameworks and creating digital identity systems, which is an essential element in the transition to the digital economy. Furthermore, the lack of official national statistics on the use of information and communications technology and e-commerce hinders the formulation and evaluation of digital development policies. Finally, the pandemic has reinforced pre-existing bottlenecks in the e-commerce ecosystem in small island developing States.
UNCTAD statistical resources give an overview of e-commerce legislation worldwide, showing that small island developing States are below the world average in four areas, namely, e-transaction laws, consumer protection laws, privacy laws and cybercrime laws.
This course will contribute to strengthening capacities among small island developing States to adopt trade policies that foster digital economy development and enhance crisis responsiveness. It will also enhance capacities among small island developing States with regard to key aspects of the digital economy by developing skills and knowledge through innovative approaches based on a recognized blended learning method and state-of-the-art technological solutions.
Objectives
The course aims to enhance the capacities of government officials, lawmakers and other stakeholders in all aspects to be considered in drafting e-commerce laws.
Upon completion of the course, participants will be able to:
- Explain a wide range of regulatory issues that concern e-commerce
- Describe new developments in and the scope of e-commerce issues
- Exchange experiences in and knowledge on harmonization aspects of e-commerce
Primary target audience
Participants from Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and delegates from permanent missions to the United Nations entities:
- Policymakers, lawmakers and regulators (enforcement agencies) in charge of defining general policy guidelines and elaborating national legal frameworks for e-commerce
- Judiciary (lawyers, judges, police) involved in e-commerce issues
- Service providers and businesses offering online products and services
Registration
Registration is open to all relevant stakeholders from small island developing States and delegates from permanent missions in Geneva. Women are particularly encouraged to participate. Nominated officials may self-register at https://tft-reg.unctad.org by selecting “ Legal Aspect of e-Commerce for SIDS 2023 (LAEC)” and using access code “2023.Legal”.
Among small island developing States, information and communications technology and e-commerce have significant potential to support participation in international and regional markets, build resilience and help better recover from disasters. Despite this potential, the digital economy remains in an early phase of development in small island developing States. These countries face similar challenges, such as in improving access to affordable digital infrastructure, building adequate legal frameworks and creating digital identity systems, which is an essential element in the transition to the digital economy. Furthermore, the lack of official national statistics on the use of information and communications technology and e-commerce hinders the formulation and evaluation of digital development policies. Finally, the pandemic has reinforced pre-existing bottlenecks in the e-commerce ecosystem in small island developing States.
UNCTAD statistical resources give an overview of e-commerce legislation worldwide, showing that small island developing States are below the world average in four areas, namely, e-transaction laws, consumer protection laws, privacy laws and cybercrime laws.
This course will contribute to strengthening capacities among small island developing States to adopt trade policies that foster digital economy development and enhance crisis responsiveness. It will also enhance capacities among small island developing States with regard to key aspects of the digital economy by developing skills and knowledge through innovative approaches based on a recognized blended learning method and state-of-the-art technological solutions.
Objectives
The course aims to enhance the capacities of government officials, lawmakers and other stakeholders in all aspects to be considered in drafting e-commerce laws.
Upon completion of the course, participants will be able to:
- Explain a wide range of regulatory issues that concern e-commerce
- Describe new developments in and the scope of e-commerce issues
- Exchange experiences in and knowledge on harmonization aspects of e-commerce
Primary target audience
Participants from Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and delegates from permanent missions to the United Nations entities:
- Policymakers, lawmakers and regulators (enforcement agencies) in charge of defining general policy guidelines and elaborating national legal frameworks for e-commerce
- Judiciary (lawyers, judges, police) involved in e-commerce issues
- Service providers and businesses offering online products and services
Registration
Registration is open to all relevant stakeholders from small island developing States and delegates from permanent missions in Geneva. Women are particularly encouraged to participate. Nominated officials may self-register at https://tft-reg.unctad.org by selecting “ Legal Aspect of e-Commerce for SIDS 2023 (LAEC)” and using access code “2023.Legal”.