World Consumer Rights Day 2023 [12 Simple Facts to know]

Last updated on March 15th, 2023

Here is the list of 12 less known facts about World Consumer Rights Day 2023.

1. When it is celebrated?

15th March of every year is marked as World Consumer Rights Day.

2. Why to celebrate World Consumer Rights Day? (Significance)

• To respect and protect the consumer rights
• To be conscious of our consumer rights
• To educate every consumer in the world about their rights
• To defend against market abuses and social injustices.

3. Who was the inspiration?

World Consumer Rights day is inspired by John F Kennedy, 35th President of United States of America.

4. History

In 1960 A consumer movement by Elizabeth Schadee of the International Organisation of Consumers Unions (I.O.C.U.), ( now Consumers International) marked the beginning.

Kennedy was the first world leader to formally address the issue of consumer rights. He sent special message to the government on 15th March 1962.
He was the one to coin the four basic consumer rights — right to safety, right to be informed, right to choose, and right to be heard. Till day, most of the countries reflect these 4 consumer rights in their policies, regulations and act.

5. When was first World Consumer Rights Day observed?

First World Consumer Rights Day was observed in 1983.

6. What is the basis of Consumer Rights?

UN Guidelines for Consumer Protection is the basis of consumer rights. It consists of 10 broad guidelines to be followed by it’s member nations.

7. Who was behind the UN Guidelines for Consumer Protection?

Consumer International which successfully campaigned on consumer rights compelled United Nations to adopt guidelines for Consumer Protection by the UN General Assembly in 1985. These were amended again in 2015, when the General Assembly adopted the revised UN Guidelines for Consumer Protection.

8. How to celebrate?

It seems funny, when we limit important occasion to a single day!

It’s not going to happen. Why?

Because we don’t buy once in a year!

Hence, consumer rights day should be celebrated throughout the year. Thus Consumer International organises yearly themes to lookup severe issues.

9. What are consumer rights?

Consumer rights are exclusive rights of end user prescribed by the law of particular nation.

Six Consumer Rights in India

1. Right to choose
2. Right to safety
3. Right to be informed
4. Right to be heard
5. Right to seek redressal
6. Right to consumer education

Do you there are 33 Consumer Rights across the globe? Check it out now

10. Where do we celebrate?

World Consumer Rights Day is celebrated across the globe in 100+ countries.

11. Theme of World Consumer Rights Day 2023

Empower Consumers through Clean Energy Transitions is the theme of 2023

Most countries are facing a deepening energy crisis globally which is having an especial untold impact on vulnerable consumers.

Increasing access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy will play a major part in Consumption Shifts towards greener world.

Fair Digital Finance is the theme of 2022.

Digital technologies are reshaping payments, lending and wealth management. Thus becoming a key for consumers to financial services.

Digital financial services  have driven magnificent changes across the world. According to Juniper Research, by 2024, the digital banking consumers are expected to exceed 3.6 billion.

Along with the growing trend, digital financial services have created new risks that can lead to unfair outcomes for consumers and leave those who are vulnerable behind in an increasingly cashless society.

Thus, Consumers International will be hosting a week-long event starting on 14 March 2022, the Fair Digital Finance Summit.

This Summit will spark the first-ever global conversation around consumer-centred solutions in digital financial services by bringing together diverse voices of consumer advocates and key marketplace actors in digital financial services to accelerate change.  

Theme of World Consumer Rights Day 2021

Do you carry bags during shopping?

Only few people in the world do this. It’s became very common to use plastic bags during shopping.

Despite huge campaigns to ban plastic. Due to inevitable situations we couldn’t have done it fully. Hence some nations have came up with decomposable plastic (eco friendly plastic).

Why we should not use plastic?

Although plastic is light, easy to use and cheap. There are severe ecological issues associated with it.

A report shows, 40% of plastic produced is packaging and discarded after one use.

Also, report by Pew Charitable trust, calculates the flow of plastic into the ocean will TRIPLE by 2040 if we don’t change our habits and polices.

You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.

Jane Goodall

To address this issue, the theme of World Consumer Rights Day 2021 is to Tackle Plastic Pollution.

12. Themes before 2021

2020	The Sustainable Consumer
2019	Trusted Smart Products
2018	Making Digital Market places fairer
2017	Better Digital World
2016	Antibiotics off the menu
2015	Healthy Diet
2014	Fix our phone rights

Out of 8 themes, it is interesting to note that 4 are related to digital sector. Thus addressing the needs of 21th century.

World Consumer Rights Day (Special Quotes)

There is only one boss. The customer.

Sam Walton

Know what your customers want most and what your company does best. Focus on where those two meet.

Kevin Stirtz

Don’t find customers for your products, find products for your customers.

Seth Godin

Get closer than ever to your customers. So close, in fact, that you tell them what they need well before they realize it themselves.

Steve Jobs

Customers don’t expect you to be perfect. They do expect you to fix things when they go wrong.

Donald Porter

Special Contest – World Consumer Rights Day 2023

1. Tag #WCRD2023 at our twitter handle
2. Share your interesting story as Consumer
3. Just inspire others!