International Widows Day: History, Significance, Celebration, Quotes

International Widows Day is observed on 23rd June every year to address the issue that widows and their children faces in several countries. United Nations wanted to draw an attention towards the experiences of widows and how to provide unique support at the time they need. Let us read more about International Widows Day, history behind it and conditions of widow’s all over the world.

International Widows Day: 23 June

To loss a partner in a life can’t be expressed in words how he or she felt. Several women around the world after losing her life partner faces challenges and do long-term struggle for basic needs, their human right and dignity. Various conditions being in the society they faces like denied inheritance rights to the piece of land, forced into unwanted marriages, unimagined widowhood rituals, force to leave his husband’s home etc. According to the UN data there are approx 258 million widows around the world and nearly one in ten live in extreme poverty.

International Widows Day: History

Loomba Foundation initiated the International Widow’s Day in 2005. According to Loomba, women in various countries experience great hardship after their husband die. They are not looked by NGO’s, governments and also societies curse them. Finally on 23 June, 2010 it was officially recognised in the United Nations general Assembly. Do you know 23rd June was decided to observe International Widow’s Day because Loomba’s mother became widow on 23 June, 1954?

With the widows, children also face several problems like they are withdrawn from the school and are more vulnerable to abuse. International Widow’s Day encourage people to work towards the rights for widows, highlighting the issues that women faces, violence, discrimination and poverty suffered by the widow’s. So, there is a need to develop policies and programs to address the problem that widow faces in the world. The main aim of this day is to provide education to women those who want to study, healthcare facilities, develop various resources and policies to empower widows. So, that they can live violence and abuse free life with dignity and respect. It is necessary to understand their conditions and enable them to live the life that they want.

Significance:

Since its inception, International Widow’s Day has been observed annually, serving as a platform to generate public awareness, mobilize resources, and advocate for policy changes and programs that improve the lives of widows. The day stands as a reminder of the ongoing work needed to address the issues faced by widows and create a more inclusive and equitable world for them.

Widows, especially in developing countries, face numerous challenges that hinder their well-being and participation in society. They may be subjected to discrimination, social isolation, and economic hardship following the death of their husbands. Obstacles often arise in inheriting property, accessing education and healthcare, and participating in the workforce. Many widows and their children are trapped in a cycle of poverty, vulnerability, and marginalization.

International Widows’ Day aims to challenge these stereotypes and promote gender equality by advocating for the rights of widows and empowering them to rebuild their lives. Efforts are made to ensure that widows have access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities, enabling them to actively participate in society and contribute to their communities.

International Widow’s Day also serves as an opportunity to honor and recognize the resilience, strength, and contributions of widows in their communities. Widows often play crucial roles as caregivers, nurturers, and providers for their families, despite the hardships they face. The day highlights their importance and the need to support them in their efforts to rebuild their lives and contribute to society.

Celebration:

Various organizations, governments, activists, communities, and civil society groups use International Widow’s Day as a platform to advocate for policy changes, legal reforms, and social programs that address the specific needs of widows. Events, conferences, and campaigns are organized to raise awareness about widows’ rights, promote social inclusion, and mobilize support for widows and their families.

Through awareness campaigns, educational initiatives, and community support, International Widows Day aims to promote greater understanding and compassion for widows, urging societies to take action to improve their lives. By addressing the challenges widows encounter, it contributes to creating a more inclusive and equitable world for all.

Work and Progress for Widow’s:

This day provide an opportunity to take an action in achieving full rights and recognition for widows. Like fair share in the inheritance property, land, productive resources, social protection that are not based on marital status, decent work and equal pay, training opportunities, education etc. According to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, it is important to ensure the rights of widow’s as enshrined in international law. One more reason is lack of awareness and discrimination by judicial officials can cause widow’s to avoid turning to the justice system to seek reparations.

Even the goals of Sustainable development includes programmes and policies for ending violence against widow’s and their children, poverty alleviation, education, support to widow’s of all ages also need to be considered etc.

Therefore, International Widow’s Day is observed to raise issues that widow and their children faces in daily life. Various Member States made commitment at the 63rd Commission on the Status of Women in March 2019 to invest in and strengthen family-oriented policies and programmes, including to “ensure that adequate measures are in place to protect and support women, including in cases of widowhood, such as access to the full range of social services and access to justice…”.

Quotes: