International Day of Widows (23/06)

We must ensure that widows enjoy the rights and social protection they deserve. Death is inevitable, but we can reduce the suffering of widows if we raise their status and help them in difficult times. 8th UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon

Every year on June 23, starting in 2011, the world community celebrates International Widow's Day. This date provides an opportunity to pay attention to the plight of women and children left without male support. This is called for by the resolution of the UN General Assembly (A/RES/65/189), issued in December 2010 and establishing the status of an international day for June 23.

According to the United Nations, today the total number of widows in the world is more than 258 million, with one in ten women living in extreme poverty. Very many widows live in countries where armed conflicts are raging; their situation is especially difficult: they lose their husbands at a young age, while being forced to raise children in combat and without any outside support.

The situation is aggravated by the fact that in many countries the status of a woman is derived from the status of her spouse, and, having been widowed, she can lose all — down to basic livelihoods. There are states where widows do not have access to inheritance, are deprived of the right to employment, and cannot be considered full members of society. Widows are often expelled from their own homes and physically abused, and sometimes killed, even by members of their own family. And in order to restore social status, a widow has to marry one of her husband’s relatives, often against her will. For many, losing a husband is only the first blow in a string of trials.

In many countries, widowhood is a stigma and is seen as dishonor. In some cultures, widows are considered cursed and associated with witchcraft. As a result of such false ideas, widows are ostracized, harassed and subjected to even uglier forms of violence. For example, a study conducted by «HelpAge International» found that hundreds of elderly women, mostly widows, were killed in Tanzania on charges of witchcraft.

Children of widows often suffer both emotionally and financially. Widowed mothers have to provide for their families alone. They are forced to take their children out of school and send them to work. In addition, widows' daughters often feel disadvantaged, which only increases their vulnerability to violence.

Such manifestations of cruelty are often justified within the framework of cultural or religious practice. Impunity for violations of widows' rights has become commonplace, and only a very few have been prosecuted. Even in those countries where legal protection is widely practised, widows may be socially marginalized.

Even in developed countries, these women also face certain difficulties — from losing insurance and difficulty obtaining credit to having to raise children alone. In a number of cases, wives are liable for the debts of their deceased husband. And economic reasons related to widowhood can also push some women and girls into prostitution.

International Widows' Day provides an opportunity for action to ensure full recognition of the rights of widows who have been overlooked for so long, unrecorded and neglected. The lack of reliable data is one of the main obstacles to the development of policies and programmes to combat poverty, violence and discrimination suffered by widows. Further research and statistical materials disaggregated by marital status, gender and age are needed to identify cases of abuse of widows, as well as to better understand their situation.

In addition, governments need to take measures to fulfill their obligations to ensure the rights of widows and their children, as provided for by international law. Programs and policies must also be implemented to eliminate violence against widows and their children, as well as reduce poverty, provide education and support to widows of all ages.

On the first Widows' Day, an international discussion was held at the UN headquarters, in which famous human rights activists took part, among whom there were many women. And later on this day, information events began to be held aimed at raising public awareness of the situation of widows.



• Infographics – poster «International Widows' Day» • Story «Widows»

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