Consumer rights versus generations of human rights

Abstract

Consumer rights is a fast-evolving area within the sphere of protection of human rights, whereas the idea of generations of human rights makes reference to the established classification in international law. At the turn of the 21st century there were discussions about the fourth and the fifth generations. The article focuses on answering the question of whether the consumer’s rights are a new generation of human rights and who, among the international neighbours, has the most extensive case law. Analysing international law, the author came to the conclusion that none of the international case-laws include the entire idea of „consumer rights” within the frame of one generation. The third-generation rights are open, and it seems that considering consumers as a group, their rights should belong to that generation, and in that meaning they may be defined as a “new generation”. Analysing case law of international courts the author came to the conclusion that in this regard the European Court of Justice has the most extensive law.