Voices for Change: the Consumer Right to Representation

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World Consumer Rights Day 2002: Voices for Change
effectively in many places. Prospects for
change are more promising than they have
ever been. It is exhilarating for us to be there,
with other civil society groups, helping to
bring about change. Our movement has
always called for “Justice for people.” Let’s
now join together in even greater efforts to
secure that justice.
- by Rhoda Karpatkin, President Emeritus of
Consumers Union of US and former President
of Consumers International
Four Reasons for
Representation
Representation of consumer interest in the
regulatory process is critical for a variety
of reasons:
1. The political process, including
administrative decision-making and
regulation, is the outcome of the interplay
of a variety of groups. All interests have
to be adequately represented if equitable
outcomes are to be achieved. The
interests of unrepresented groups
will inevitably be compromised.
2. Thinly spread groups such as consumers
cannot, unaided, participate extensively
in those processes. Unlike producers and
suppliers of goods and providers of
services who are generally wellorganised,
amply resourced and have
access to expert or technical information,
consumers lack such resources and find
it difficult to make themselves heard. Yet
consumers may have enough clout to
influence decisions that affect them –
although, once decisions have been taken,
it is all the more difficult to change or
undo them. Consumer concerns and
involvement must be taken into account
throughout the decision-making process.
3. In a modern and increasingly complex
society where good ideas are always in
short supply, vigorous competition in
ideas is a virtue worth promoting.
4. Representation enhances public
participation in collective decisionmaking
and public participation is a
desired ideal of democratic governance.
It helps develop public values and is an
integral part of the extra-legal machinery
of government. Group participation
compensates for regulatory failure,
develops valuable precedents and acts
as a catalyst for political change.
– Adapted from “Representation of the
Consumer Interest,” by Dr Sothi Rachagan,
Director, CI’s Office for Asia and the Pacific