New Delhi: World Consumer Rights Day is celebrated every year on March 15 to reassert every consumer’s right to know the price, quality, purity, and standards of each product in all fair senses. This day is used as a means of raising global awareness about consumer rights and needs. 


It provides a chance to demand that the rights of all consumers are respected and protected, and to protest against market abuses and social injustices which undermine those rights.


Historical Background


The first-ever mention of consumer rights can be traced back to 1962 when the 35th President of the US, John F Kennedy sent a special message to the US Congress on March 15. He was the first world leader to do so.


After that, the first Consumer Rights Day was celebrated in 1983. Later, it was accepted by the United Nations and is celebrated annually since then.


World Consumer Day 2022- Theme


The global theme of this year’s World Consumer Day is Fair Digital Finance. It intends to spark the first-ever global conversation on the consumer vision for fair digital finance.


Significance 


Since digital technologies are reshaping the world every day. It has become necessary to address the most pressing issues faced by consumers in digital finance, Consumers International and our global Membership developed a Consumer Vision for Fair Digital Finance. 


This year’s theme aims to set out questions for decision-makers from a consumer rights perspective to build a digital financial marketplace that is inclusive, safe, data protected and private, and sustainable for everyone.