Gaziantep University (GAÜN) First-year students in the Criminal Justice and Security Services program of the Law Department at Oğuzeli Vocational School, as part of the Social Awareness Project (TDP) titled “Raising Awareness of Consumer Rights” led by Lecturer Dr. Ali Balkan, organized an informational event in Gaziantep for citizens regarding consumer rights.
Students participating in the event first underwent training on the legal aspects of consumer rights during the project process, learning the subject at a theoretical level. After learning about the rights granted to consumers by the Consumer Protection Law and related legislation, each student prepared a handout on a specific consumer right. While preparing the brochures, care was taken to present the practical information consumers need most in their daily lives in a clear and understandable manner. The brochures placed particular emphasis on information regarding distance contracts, face-to-face sales, the right of withdrawal, consumers’ options, the right to file a complaint with the Consumer Arbitration Board in writing or via e-Government, and the right to file a complaint with the Consumer Court. The brochures were then distributed to randomly selected citizens during a field study in central Gaziantep, where the information was explained to them. Additionally, questions asked by citizens regarding consumer rights were answered.
Speaking about the project, Dr. Ali Balkan, Lecturer at GAÜN Oğuzeli Vocational School, stated, “Consumer rights are among the most essential rights in daily life, yet they are often only researched when a problem arises. It is crucial to have at least a basic understanding of consumer rights. Our goal with this event is to provide our target audience with practical knowledge on how to exercise the consumer rights they need most. By taking on roles in this project, our students first learned about consumer rights themselves. They then used this knowledge to share the informational brochures they prepared themselves with citizens and worked to ensure our social awareness project achieved its goal,” he said.
Speaking about the TDP event, Prof. Dr. Memet Şahin, Director of the GAÜN Oğuzeli Vocational School, said, “I congratulate our participating students for carrying out this project, which aims to educate the public in an area as essential as consumer rights.”
