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Consumer Protection in LAC – An Introduction
By Keith R | April 3, 2007
Topics: Consumer Protection | 2 Comments »
March 15 was World Consumer Rights Day (yeah, I know I’m late!). If you live in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) and didn’t realize it, your local nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and your national consumer affairs office need more work on their profiles!
World Consumer Rights Day was invented in 1983 by the global coalition of some 220 consumer groups, London-based Consumers International (CI), which to this day still sets the theme for each year. March 15th was picked because on that day in 1962 President John F. Kennedy outlined in a speech four basic consumer rights:
- the right to safety
- the right to be informed
- the right to choose
- the right to be heard.
Kennedy’s “basic consumer rights” became the core of many nations’ consumer protection legislation and of the United Nations Consumer Protection Guidelines.*
I’ve been trying to decide the best way for The Temas Blog to commemorate World Consumer Rights Day. I’ve decided to do so in five parts:
- a quick look at how some of national agencies and NGOs in LAC celebrated World Consumer Rights Day this year;
- a reference guide to consumer laws/regulations in the region;
- a guide to LAC consumer agencies;
- a guide to consumer NGOs in the region;
- a collection of consumer news briefs that will give you a flavor of what’s currently going on in this field in the region.
All suggestions for additions, corrections or future posts welcome!
Next Up in Part I: A look at how many organizations in LAC celebrated World Consumer Rights Day with its theme of combating unethical drug promotion.
* The non-binding Guidelines were approved by the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in 1985 and modified in 1999; they cover in general terms the various elements the UN opines that national consumer protection laws and standards should address.
Tags: Consumer Protection, consumer rights, Consumers International, defensa del consumidor, defesa do consumidor, John F. Kennedy, UN Consumer Protection Guidelines, World Consumer Rights Day
April 10th, 2007 at 21:02
Hello, Keith:
I’m currently taking a course on GIS and was asked by my professor to research some GEO blogs and make a comment. Having spent a while doing so, I am writing you to let you know that I really appreciate the thoughtful-ness, thorough-ness, and helpful-ness of this site. The variety, focus, and clarity of the information you provide is a resource for students and interested citizens of the world. Thanks to you and your associates for your good work.
Judeen
April 10th, 2007 at 21:25
Thanks for the kind words, Judeen, welcome to The Temas Blog and please come back often. I do my best! Wish I had “associates” helping me with the blog to convey the thanks to — so far, apart from two guest blogs from Jaime and Andreas, it’s been all me. I should be getting some more guest blogs soon, though, probably starting with Calvin Jones of all the climate change blogs fame…
Best Regards,
Keith