On 9th April 1985, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGAS) adopted the United Nations Guideline for Consumer Protection to embrace the principles of eight consumer rights and provide a framework for strengthening national consumer protection policies. With the UN’s adoption of the guidelines, consumer rights were finally elevated to a position of international recognition and legitimacy, acknowledged by developed and developing countries alike.
These Rights include the right to:
- satisfaction of basic needs
- safety
- be informed
- choose
- be heard
- redress
- consumer education
- a healthy environment
However, these rights continue to be ignored or trivialised by governments, producers and the powerful. World Consumer Rights Day draws attention to such violations and provides a platform for consumer groups to address them in the countries where they operate.
Since its inception in 2003, CCZ has celebrated World Consumer Rights Day under the following themes: –
2003 – Corporate Control of the food chain: the GM link
2004 – Consumers and Water
2005 – Call for Action on GMOs
2006 – Energy – Sustainable Access for All
2007 – Unethical Drug Promotion
2008 – Junk Food Generation
2009 – Junk Food Generation
2010 – Our Money, Our Rights
2011 – Consumers for Fair Financial Services
Preparations for World Consumer Rights Day 2011
In preparation for the day the Consumer Council of Zimbabwe (CCZ) took centre stage in the print and electronic media. The Executive Director and Deputy Executive Director for CCZ, Ms Rosemary Siyachitema and Mrs Rosemary Mpofu, made statements to enlighten consumers on the 2011 these through various media.
