The Rights and Responsibilities of Consumers

Consumer protection movements have evolved and grown worldwide in the past few decades. This global drive to protect and uphold consumer interests is amply reflected in the guidelines adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1985 (Resolution 39/248) for the protection of consumer rights, and in the efforts of international organization such as Consumer International. Consumer protection movements reflect the social and cultural patterns and attitudes of a given society in which they operate, as well as promote good market practices and a sustainable consumption patterns. Consumer movements not only protect consumer rights, but also aim to educate the consumers about their responsibilities and build a more equitable and fair society.

CRCP shares the vision of Consumer International and endorses consumer guidelines and responsibilities prescribed by it and by the UN General Assembly. CRCP perceives its role not only as defending the rights of the consumer but more importantly towards achieving a clear social understanding about what it means to be consumer. It strives for the emergence of an organized consumer movement through building a broad base of informed and responsible consumers. CRCP endeavors to support the consumers to come out of the prevailing inertia and play a more active role in deciding their consumption patterns to effect long-term socio-economic change and achieve sustainable development.

A summary of Consumer International's (CI) philosophy of Consumer Rights and Responsibilities

Consumer Rights

Basic Needs
The right to basic goods and services, which guarantee survival. It includes adequate food, clothing, shelter, health care, education and sanitation.

Safety
The right to be protected against products, production processes and services which are hazardous to health and life. It includes concern for consumer's long-term as well as their immediate requirements.

Information
The right to be given the facts needed to make an informed choice or decision. Consumer must be provided with adequate information enabling them to act wisely and responsibly. They must also be protected from misleading or inaccurate publicity material, whether included in advertising, labeling, packaging or by other means.

Choice
The right to choose products and services at competitive prices and, in the case of monopolies, to have an assurance of satisfactory quality and service at a fair price.

Representation
The right to advocate consumers' interests with a view to their receiving full and sympathetic consideration in the formulation and execution of economic and other policies. It includes the right of representation in governmental and other policy-making bodies as well as in the development of products and services before they are produced or set up.

Redress
The right to a fair settlement of just claims. It includes the right to receive compensation for misrepresentation of shoddy goods or unsatisfactory services and the availability of acceptable forms of legal aid or redress for small claims where necessary.

Consumer Education
The right to acquire the knowledge and skills to be an informed consumer throughout life. The right to consumer education incorporates the right to the knowledge and skills needed for taking action to influence factors, which affect consumer decisions.

Healthy Environment
The right to a physical environment that will enhance the quality of life includes protection against environmental dangers over which the individual has no control It acknowledge the need to protect and improve the environment for present and future generations.

Consumer Responsibilities

Critical Awareness
The responsibility to be more alert and questioning about the price and quality of goods and services we consume.

Action
The responsibility to assert ourselves by acting to ensure that we get a fair deal As long as we remain passive consumers we will continue to be exploited and manipulated.

Social Concern
The responsibility to consider the impacts of our consumption patterns and lifestyles on other citizens especially the poor disadvantaged or powerless consumers whether they be in the local national or international community.

Environmental Awareness
The responsibility to realize the environmental costs and consequences of our consumption patterns and lifestyles. We should recognize our individual and collective social responsibility to conserve natural resources and to preserve earth for present and future generations.

Solidarity
The responsibility to come together and organize consumers in order to enhance the strength and influence required to promote and protect our interests.