Every year on March 15, World Consumer Rights Day is observed to raise global awareness about consumer rights and needs.

One of the primary reasons for celebrating this day is to emphasise the fundamental rights of all consumers, honouring and respecting them while also ensuring their protection.

Let's take a look at the theme, history, and significance of World Consumer Rights Day 2023.

Theme of  World Consumer Rights Day 2023

Every year, World Consumer Rights Day is celebrated with a different theme. The theme for this year is Empowering Consumers Through Clean Energy Transitions.

"This year, the Membership of Consumers International 200 consumer groups in 100 countries selected Empowering Consumers Through Clean Energy Transitions as our global theme," stated Consumer International.

"Amidst the greatest cost-of-living crisis in a generation and as the energy world drastically responds to supply and climate issues, we have a core role to play in delivering a just transition for consumers," it added.

History And Significance

Consumer International, a membership organisation for consumer groups worldwide, established the first World Consumer Rights Day.

Consumer Internationa is a global organisation that ensures the protection and proper use of consumer rights worldwide.

Consumer International was founded in 1960 as an independent and influential consumer voice.

The first World Consumer Rights Day was observed on March 15, 1983.

The day is observed every year on March 15, because it was on this day that the then US President John Fitzgerald Kennedy introduced four important consumer rights during a speech to Congress.

These rights were-

• Right to safety
• Right to be informed
• Right to choose
• Right to be heard.

The main reason for commemorating this day is to ensure that people are aware of their consumer rights and do not fall victim to fraudulent products and companies.

In India, the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, gives customers six fundamental rights as a guarantee. Every year, December 24 is celebrated as National Consumer Rights Day in India.

Also known as National Consumer Day, this day was chosen to commemorate the signing of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986, by the then Indian President Giani Zail Singh.