PURPOSE: A widow is a woman whose spouse has died; a widower is a man whose spouse has died. The treatment of widows and widowers around the world varies. The day aims to provide concrete and actionable recommendations across sectors in order to address the needs of widows suffering human rights violations and discrimination in certain parts of the world. During the observance of the International Widows’ Day on June 23rd, let’s take a look at some of the issues affecting widows around the world to learn what must be done to safeguard and advance their rights.
FORUM: ”Let's work to ensure that widows of all ages, whatever their religion, ethnicity, caste, class, or nationality, are protected from discrimination, violence and poverty – thus enabling them to enjoy their full human rights as equal and valuable members of society.” International Widows’ Day 2023. Even when national laws exist to protect the rights of widows, weaknesses in the judicial systems of many States compromise how widows’ rights are defended in practice and should be addressed. Lack of awareness and discrimination by judicial officials can cause widows to avoid turning to the justice system to seek reparations. Follow the conversations with the hashtags: #23June, #widowhood, #Widowsday.
EVENTS: Worldwide, there are more than 258 million widows, but they have often gone unnoticed, unsupported, and unmeasured. Join us in demanding that their rights be upheld and that their voices be heard today. The United Nations General Assembly, the United Nations Member States, the Global Fund for Widows (GFW), the UN-Women, the UNFPA, the OHCHR, the Civil society organizations and Non-governmental organizations will held a webinar on June 23rd to mark the International Widows’ Day 2023.
PODCASTS: Talks about the discrimination and injustice faced by widows and their dependants country by country and worldwide.. Listen to the audio-podcasts!
CAMPAIGN MATERIALS: Let’s strive to promote social inclusion in the lives of widows, widowers & anyone that has experienced bereavement. Get the campaign materials!
WHY WE CELEBRATE THE DAY?
Empowering widows through access to adequate healthcare, education, decent work, full participation in decision-making and public life, and lives free of violence and abuse, would give them a chance to build a secure life after bereavement. Importantly, creating opportunities for widows can also help to protect their children and avoid the cycle of inter-generational poverty and deprivation.
The United Nations General Assembly invites Researchers, international and local agencies, governments and all who care about gender inequality and the desperate plight of widows to develop sound, evidence-based policy for a better world. It’s time to end the World’s Silence on Widows and to help them find opportunities for Leadership. Join us to celebrate the day in order to improve the position of women who have lost their husbands”.
ACTIONS
Financially assist widows and widowers with young families, regardless of parental marital status or sexual orientation.
Advocating and working with governments to develop international laws to enhance the rights of widows.
Building Programmes and policies for ending violence against widows and their children, poverty alleviation, education and other support to widows of all ages also need to be undertaken, including in the context of action plans to accelerate achievement of the Global Goals.
Governments should take action to uphold their commitments to ensure the rights of widows as enshrined in international law, including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women and the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
PARTNERS
The International Widows’ Day is organized by the UN Women, the United Nations Human Rights Council, the Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls, its causes and consequences, the UNAIDS, the UNFPA, the UNICEF, the UN Office on Genocide Prevention. With the collaboration of the Global Fund for Widows, The Loomba Foundation, the IDF Widows & Orphans Organization, the Liz Logelin Foundation, the Widows Empowerment Trust, The Modern Widows Club, the Soaring Spirits International, the Wings for Widows, the HEART for Widows, the Hope for Widows, the Both Hands, the Christian Aid Ministries. With the participation of Civil Society Organizations, Non-Governmental Organization, philanthropists and academics.