International Widows’ Day 2021

The observance of International Widows Day, is an annual event marked every June 23 by the United Nations, however other countries have days they adopted to mark theirs.
The celebration became necessary to bring to light several human rights violations and other abuses faced by widows are with after the death of their spouses as well as forge ways to ameliorate their sufferings.
International Widows Day was established by The Loomba Foundation to raise awareness on the issue of widowhood. A study by the foundation, on the rising number of widows, was presented to the then UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon on 22 June 2010 then by December 21, 2010, the United Nations formally adopted June 23 as a day of observance of International Widows Day.1
In Nigeria, one of the major factors that causes violence against widows are fueled by socio-cultural norms. Notably among is widowhood practices and obnoxious norms which is very prevalent in the country especially in South East Nigeria.
In an article written by Kelechi Iruoma for an online platform, The New Humanitarian, aptly captured some of the issues faced by widows. He wrote, “In many Nigerian cultures, when a man dies, his wife is accused of having a hand in his death until she proves her innocence through a series of rituals. A widow can be forced to sleep in the same room as her husband’s body during the mourning period, which can last days, or to drink the water used to clean the body.
“Many widows in Nigeria are accused of witchcraft, which can lead to being ostracized, abused or even death. Due to lack of reporting, there is no way to know how many women in Nigeria have been killed over witchcraft fears, but experts agree the number is rising.”2
Nigeria is a patriarchal society thus women are regarded as less humans while widows have remained at the fulcrum of this debasing treatment. Widows are subjected to agonizing, painful and dehumanizing treatments during their mourning rites and thereafter. This impact negatively on their social, psychological and physical wellbeing.
A recently concluded research revealed some of the harsh treatment widows are subjected to, in hands of traditional female institutions such as Umuada and relatives of the deceased. . They are still not allowed a say in the burial of their husbands and other obnoxious laws, including social exclusion and the other economic hardship associated with it.
Recently, following the insecurity situation being experienced in the State a lot of women became widows prematurely. The death of civilians and by security operatives as well as reported cases of missing persons, in which men had the highest number . This has created more widows in the system, saddling them with new responsibility of charting the course of their families alone.
The theme of the 2021 Widows Day, “Invisible Women, Invisible Problems”, became important as widows have continued to be left unseen, unsupported, and unmeasured by the society. The theme therefore, encourages us to identify with these women and make their problems visible to the society as well as include widows in policy making meetings.
With the number of heightened insecurities, rising conflicts owing to terrorism and banditry, displacements, and the covid-19 pandemic, as well as missing spouses has left many more women widowed. These experiences must be brought to the front burner with efforts made for their voices to be heard.
As part of recommendations, the foundation urge the government and policy makers;
• To make laws/policies in favor of widows in the community.
• Ensure full rights for widows and justice where applicable.
• Push for research and statistics into violence, discrimination, poverty, and develop policies and program to address the problem.
• On the need for access to health care, work, education, live free from violence and abuse for widows in the state.

References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Widows_Day
https://deeply.thenewhumanitarian.org/womensadvancement/articles/2018/04/25/pushing-for-stronger-laws-to-protect-widows-rights-in-nigeria