Last week, the global consumer movement came together to celebrate the achievements of the past 60 years.
Thank you to everyone who helped make Consumers International’s 60th Anniversary celebrations so special. There was fantastic engagement from our members throughout the week across our Global Member Webinar, Regional Celebrations, Partner Special Addresses and social media. We hope you enjoyed the experience and, like us, took pride in being part of a unique global family of consumer advocates.
Key insights from the celebration included –
Acknowledgement that Consumers International is well-recognised for its critical role as the global voice for consumers in the international landscape.
The work programme for Consumers international – the Change Agenda – is aligned with the foremost challenges and opportunities for consumers in the coming decade.
Consumer advocacy can shape innovation for the benefit of consumers in a rapidly evolving marketplace.
We are stronger together – consumer advocates must collaborate and actively engage for the cross-border impact needed in today’s marketplace.
In 2020 consumer advocacy rose to a unique set of challenges, rapidly innovating to support consumers in extraordinary circumstances.
We look forward to a very active 2021 in global consumer advocacy, including:
a focus on tackling plastic pollution for World Consumer Rights Day (15 March 2021)
building towards a Global Consumer Empowerment and Protection Index with worldwide coverage to allow international comparison for the benefit of consumers.
Select messages of celebration and commitment from our global partners:
“…Pleased to address Consumers International on their 60th anniversary. Consumers are the catalyst to drive the agri-food system transformation which is needed. Together we can transform our world for better production, nutrition, environment and life.”
QU Dongyu, Director General, Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN
“WHO will continue strengthening the partnership with Consumers International and work together to ensure consumers’ interests and health are well protected.”
Zsuzsanna Jakab, Deputy Director General, World Health Organization
“It’s clear that, especially now, Consumers International’s role in coordinating actions to protect consumers from harm or unfair market practices is more important than ever.”
Sergio Mujica, Secretary-General, International Organization for Standardization
“The existence of organisations such as Consumers International is extremely important to increase awareness and chart the right direction towards safe, more sustainable consumption and production patterns”
Pamela Coke-Hamilton, Executive Director, International Trade Centre
“We at UNCTAD congratulate Consumers International for its 60th anniversary and look forward to a promising future of partnership in which the consumer advocacy movement, governments and international organisations shape the future of consumer relations to the benefit of all consumers around the world.”
Mukhisa Kituyi, Secretary-General, UN Conference on Trade and Development
“With the rapid digital expansion, we must cultivate borderless solutions to borderless problems. Together, we can protect consumers around the globe and build consumer trust in this ever-changing marketplace.”
Josephine Palumbo, President, International Consumer Protection and Enforcement Network
“At 60, Consumers International is young, modern and more relevant than ever. I congratulate you on your anniversary and offer you our long-lasting cooperation.”
Karl Brauner, Deputy Director-General, World Trade Organisation
“By strengthening the long-standing partnership between UNEP and Consumers International, we can amplify our collective influence and we can accelerate change. (…) I look forward to closer engagement with Consumers International, to intensify and accelerate our progress.”
Inger Andersen, Executive Director, UN Environment Programme
A warm thank you to all members for their ongoing support and engagement. We look forward to the future and working with you to create a marketplace that is safe, fair and sustainable for everyone.
With the very best wishes from the Consumers International team.