Today, March 15 is World Consumer Rights Day. On March 15, 1962, US President John F. Kennedy gave a speech to the US Congress on consumer rights. Since 1983, World Consumer Rights Day has been celebrated around the world every year to commemorate the historic day. Consumer rights are human rights. Because consumer rights are closely related to people’s livelihood and survival. Consumers have always been victims of unfairness in both goods and services.
Consumers are uninformed, unorganized, and weak in consumer organizations to protect their interests and the rate of fraud is constantly increasing due to the lack of specific remedies in law. The two main aspects of the market system are buyers and sellers. Although the buyer may not be a consumer, he/she is considered to buy for consumption. That is, he/she is the consumer. Few people are aware of the rights that a buyer has as a consumer.
That’s why many people accept it without saying anything even if they see it in front of their eyes. As a result, the market system is also affected as unscrupulous businessmen benefit on the one hand. So, all citizens should know and be aware of consumer rights. World Consumer Rights Day is observed every year to make everyone aware of protecting his/her own consumer rights.
History of World Consumer Rights Day
On March 15, 1962, US President John F. Kennedy gave a speech to the US Congress on consumer rights. Since 1983, World Consumer Rights Day has been celebrated around the world every year to commemorate the historic day. Consumers International (CI), the federation of consumer organizations around the world, is the only collective voice of consumer rights campaigning. 250 countries of the world are members of the organization.
In the buyer-consumer movement, various consumer organizations are working in various ways around the world. The main proponent of the consumer movement in the world is US Senator and organizer Ralph Nader. CI is currently leading and driving the global consumer movement. These organizations are carrying out necessary programs to protect consumer rights. The theme of World Consumer Rights Day 2022 was Fair Digital Finance.
Because much of today’s shopping, business, and financial transactions are done digitally or online, new levels of consumer risk are added to this sector every day. Therefore, online shopping or financial transactions should be transparent, there should be no fraud or irregularities, and the relevant financial institutions, manufacturers, sellers, and service providers should be responsible for ensuring that customers get their fair rights.
According to Consumers International Digital, banking customers will exceed 3.6 billion by 2024 (Juniper Research, 2020). In the developing world, the proportion of account holders sending and receiving payments digitally increased from 57 percent in 2014 to 70 percent in 2017 (Findex 2017). 39 percent of companies are making fintech adoption a high priority, highlighting the global demand for a more innovative financial landscape (JDSpura, 2020).
Digital financial services exacerbate traditional risks as well as create new risks, which can lead to unfair outcomes for consumers and leave behind the vulnerable in an increasingly cashless society.
Significance of World Consumer Rights Day
The day provides an opportunity to demand that the rights of all consumers be respected and protected. Also, protest against market abuses and social injustices that undermine those rights. Every year, World Consumer Rights Day is observed on March 15 to take action on important issues and campaigns.
The day highlights the power of consumers and their right to a fair, safe and sustainable marketplace for all. The day was inspired by President John F. Kennedy, and 15 A special message was sent by him to the US Congress on March 1962, in which he formally addressed the issue of consumer rights. He was the first leader to do this.
In 1983, the first consumer movement was marked, and now the day is observed every year. What rights do you have as a consumer? But people do not know anything about this. That is, people are not aware of their rights. Although a consumer and his rights are very important, there is not much awareness about this.
There is a difference between buyer and consumer. A buyer is a consumer when he/she buys a product for his/her own consumption. As a consumer, we all have the right to access accurate and safe products and services. If consumer goods are not safe, they pose a threat to the human body.
The consumer product will be of correct weight, not expired and the quality of the product will match the description of the product. Every year Consumer Rights Day is observed with significance to make us aware of our rights. If we each acquire the right knowledge of our consumer rights, we will not be cheated but will have a sustainable market system.
You may read World Food Safety Day 2023 History, Message, Wish, Quotes and Status
How to celebrate World Consumers Day?
There are many complaints against sellers these days. Underweight, selling substandard products, selling adulterated products, selling expired products, and other complaints. Many times, there is also a dispute with the buyer locally. But unaware of the legal action. We are rarely aware of that right. Some of us may protest this. But most remain silent. These days this issue is more visible in the field of online shopping.
Instead of ordered products, low-quality products are delivered to the customer’s home. Sometimes it gets remedied but most of the time the buyer does not take any action. As a consumer, I have the right to enjoy the product at the right and fair price and if cheated then legal action can be taken against the cheater – it is a legal right. A buyer-consumer relationship will be sincere and detailed.
That is, the consumer should buy the product in return for the fixed price so that he/she is not cheated. If the relationship progresses in this way, then the heart will increase between both. But it is important to know the rights of a consumer.
8 consumer rights recognized by the United Nations. These are the right to have basic needs met, the right to information, the right to safe products or services, the right to choose, the right to know, the right to complain and seek redress, the right to be educated about consumer rights and responsibilities, and the right to a healthy environment. The day is celebrated all over the world to ensure consumer rights. Let’s now know how World Consumer Rights Day is celebrated-
World Consumer Rights Day processions and rallies are organized in almost all countries of the world. The rally is organized based on the theme which is decided every year. Also, every country in the world has specific consumer rights protection laws. Various discussion meetings and seminars are organized to inform people about that law.
Where the general public is informed about their consumer rights. And consumers are informed about legal action they can take if their rights are violated. An essay competition on the protection of consumer rights was held in various schools and colleges and prizes were distributed among the winners. Various dignitaries present their speeches in discussion seminars. Also, on the occasion of World Consumer Rights Day, various TV programs are organized where consumer rights are discussed.
World Consumer Rights Day Quotes
These days’ unscrupulous businessmen are tricking customers by luring them with clever advertisements. If he/she is cheated in various ways such as low weight, low-quality products, expired products or not providing services according to the price, he/she can take legal recourse against him/her. But many people know it or even if they know, they are not doing it. Fraud is often heard. Safe products are our right.
It is as if we have learned to accept adulterated products as normal in the proliferation of adulterated products. I am used to this deception. Famous-expensive brand products are being released in the market by counterfeiting. We the buyers are buying with faith from that bad product market without realizing it.
It harms our human body. Right is a broad term. Here the rights to whom or to whom it applies to need to be known and everyone should be aware. Otherwise, those rights will be limited only to paper. Will not be implemented. Our future generation is growing up with unsafe products. This is not only happening in the food sector. Fake cosmetics and fake medicines are all on the market. Sellers pocket the profit! The buyer, the consumer is being deprived of his fair rights. A class of unscrupulous sellers is filling their pockets by selling these.
On the contrary, the consumer is cheating. He/she is being deprived of the service he/she is supposed to get by purchasing the product. To remedy this, the consumer should be aware. He/she should be vocal against these irregularities. And that’s why we need to be aware of consumer rights. We all need to be aware of our rights. Let’s take a look at some quotes on World Consumer Rights Day today.
- “Customers are the most important visitor on our premises, they are not dependent on us, and we are dependent on them. They are not an interruption in our work. They are the purpose of it. They are not outsiders in our business. They are part of it; we are not doing them a favor by serving them. They are doing us a favor by giving us an opportunity to do so.” Mahatma Gandhi
- “We see our customers as invited guests to a party, and we are the hosts, it’s our job every day to make every important aspect of the customer experience a little bit better”-Jeff Bezos.
- “Your customer doesn’t care how much you know until they know how much you care” -Damon Richards
- “Your most unhappy customers are your greatest source of learning” -Bill Gates
- “The customer’s perception is your reality” -Kate Zabriskie
World Consumer Rights Day Status
Proper implementation of consumer laws is necessary. And for that application consumer awareness is very necessary. Because if the consumer is not aware, the service provider will get away with not giving them the service they deserve. Selling adulterated products will not solve anything. Only the consumer will be stuck in the middle.
Consumer rights have come a long way in the developed world. In the developed world there is a strict stance on ensuring safe food. I, you, and our children are all consumers. Everyone has the right to be aware of their rights. We have the legal right to complain if someone resorts to fraud in the name of service. If we don’t protest, the consumer rights issue will remain in the background. A day highlights the importance of that day to us temporarily.
We should apply the importance of that day in real life. As a result, consumers can take action if they are cheated into buying the product. Let us be aware of our rights and make others aware too. Many people are not aware of consumer rights laws. Today on World Consumer Rights Day we can make everyone aware of consumer rights by sharing important statuses. Here are some statuses for your convenience that you can use today on World Consumer Rights Day-
- If every merchant gives their rights to every customer, the customers will become loyal to the merchants and the merchants will be sure that their business will never stop. And a friendly relationship will develop between the buyer and the seller. Happy World Consumer Rights Day.
- Every business owner should get closer to their customers so that customers can tell you what they need before they realize their needs. Happy World Consumer Rights Day.
- Without consumers, all businesses in the market would cease to exist. So try to give the right product to the consumers in compliance with consumer rights laws without cheating them. By doing this, a sustainable market will be created and business will improve. Happy World Consumer Rights Day.
FAQ about World Consumer Rights Day
What is the date of World Consumer Rights Day?
Who protects consumer rights?
The FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection
Who is the father of consumer rights?
Ralph Nader
Who is the founder of consumer rights?
US President John F. Kennedy
Who is the first consumer?
Herbivores
A seller or producer has the right to make a reasonable profit from the product produced. On the contrary, a consumer has the right to receive the specified product in return for the price he/she paid. If we are not careful about our rights, dishonest people will continue to cheat.
