World Consumer Rights Day

 

World Consumer Rights Day 2014

Fix Our Phone Rights

With an estimated 6.8 billion people owning a mobile, they can be found in almost every country around the world. More than just phones, mobiles are now mini computers, giving us access to information and services that are crucial to livelihoods and health. They are increasingly important tools that help to empower citizens and consumers. But mobile rip offs are also commonplace – from holidaymakers being stung by four figure roaming bills abroad, to customers tricked into paying to receive text messages.

 

 

2015

HEALTHY DIETS

All consumers deserve the right not just to food, but to healthy food. The rise in diet-related diseases such as obesity, diabetes, heart disease and some cancers represents a major international public health crisis. The number of overweight and obese people continues to rise and, to date, not a single country has been successful in reversing the increase.

 

2016

Antibiotics Off The Menu

On 15 March 2016, consumer groups around the world added their voice to campaigns calling on the world’s largest fast food companies to make global commitments to stop serving meat from animals routinely given antibiotics used in human medicine. The overuse of antibiotics is creating highly resistant superbugs. Without urgent action, we are heading for a post-antibiotic era, in which important medicines stop working and common infections and minor injuries can once again kill. Visit the campaign page here.

 

2017

Building a Digital World Consumers can trust

Our theme for World Consumer Rights Day 2017 was Building a Digital World Consumers can Trust. More than 45% of the world’s population is online now, compared with just 1% in 1995. The rapid growth of the internet, mobile phones and other digital technologies has created opportunities and challenges for millions of consumers around the world. 

 

2018

Making digital marketplaces fairer

Our theme for World Consumer Rights Day 2018 was Making Digital Marketplaces Fairer.

E-commerce has transformed the way that people shop, giving consumers more choice than ever before. But it has also raised global issues that we can only tackle together. In 2017, global e-commerce sales reached $2.29 trillion, but nearly 70% of consumers worry their digital payments are unsafe. Meanwhile, half the world’s population are still offline.

For World Consumer Rights Day 2018, we called for access to fair and secure internet for all, action against scams and fraud, and better consumer protection online. To find out more about the theme, download our background report on e-commerce. 

 

Global action for a #BetterDigitalWorld

 

This year 135 members in over 90 countries came together to mark World Consumer Rights Day. Explore our interactive map to find out how the day was celebrated in your region. 

 

2019

Trusted Smart Products

Our theme for World Consumer Rights Day 2019 was ‘Trusted Smart Products’.

 

From smartphones to wearable fitness trackers, to voice-activated assistants and smart TVs, many of the products we use are increasingly becoming connected by default.

 

This World Consumers Rights Day, we highlighted what consumers want and need from a connected world and how important it is to put them at the heart of the development of these digital products and services.

 

If you would like to learn more about this year's campaign, you can download our public campaign outline and Trusted Smart Products briefing 

 

 

2020

The Sustainable Consumer

This World Consumer Rights Day (15 March 2020), consumer organisations around the world joined together to call for global changes to avert environmental breakdown. The #Sustainable Consumer campaign rallied over 160 members in more than 100 countries across the globe, alongside Consumers International partners such the United Nations, to mark the day.

 

We urgently need drastic action to address the global crises of climate change and biodiversity loss. The decade of the 2020s is our last chance to limit global warming to 1.5c since pre-industrial times, in line with the Paris Agreement and to reverse the current trend of wide-scale biodiversity loss. 

 

From debates, environmental clean-ups and social media campaigns, to radio and television shows, mobile apps and creative activities with Gen-Z participants, our members raised awareness of the lifestyle changes consumers can make to play their part, and what governments and businesses need to do to make sustainability the easy choice for consumers. 

 

Scroll below to explore our #SustainableConsumer blog series featuring perspectives from consumer advocacy, civil society and industry leaders. For insight on the specific activities and impact of the campaign in each country and region, see our Interactive Map and Live blog from the day. 

 

 

2021

Tackling Plastic Pollution

World Consumer Rights Day is an annual occasion dedicated to highlighting the power of consumers and their rights for a fair, safe and sustainable marketplace for everyone.

 

This World Consumer Rights Day (15 March 2021), consumers will join together to Tackle Plastic Pollution.

 

We are currently facing a global plastic pollution crisis. Although plastic can be a highly useful material in everyday life, our consumption and production of plastics have become unsustainable.

The Pew Charitable Trusts & SYSTEMIQ report, Breaking the Plastic Wave, released in August 2020, calculates the flow of plastic materials into the ocean will triple by 2040 if major innovations and changes in policy and behaviour do not occur.

 

Now is a critical time in highlighting, addressing, and tackling plastic pollution as the global COVID-19 pandemic adds to the rise of single-use plastics including face masks, gloves, and food packaging.