UN Holds International Widows Day

The world is on Wednesday holding the first International Widows’ Day that seeks to provide an opportunity to give special recognition to the plight of widows and their children in order to restore their human rights and alleviate poverty through empowerment.

The UN General Assembly in December 2010 declared June 23 as
International Widows’ Day. The UN Secretary-General, Mr Ban Ki-Moon in his statement to mark the Day, said this first International Widows’ Day was an occasion to call attention to the many “firsts” that women must face when their husbands died.

In addition to coping with grief, he noted, they may find
themselves for the first time since marriage without any social safety
net, adding far too often, widows lacked access to inheritance, land
tenure, employment and even the means to survive.

“In places where a widow’s status is linked to her husband, she
may find herself suddenly shunned and isolated. Marriage – whether
she desires it or not – may be the only way for a widow to regain her
footing in society.”