"A WIDOW'S MIGHT
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Absent in statistics, unnoticed by researchers, neglected by national and local authorities and mostly overlooked by civil society organizations – the situation of widows is, in effect, invisible.
Yet abuse of widows and their children constitutes one of the most serious violations of human rights and obstacles to development today. Millions of the world’s widows endure extreme poverty, ostracism, violence, homelessness, ill health and discrimination in law and custom.
Despite some gains in gender equality worldwide, many women are still among the most vulnerable and marginalized.
Meeting and having read, understood and conversed with lot of women, found these disturbing trends among widows. Some key findings are:
The global affected population numbers 258 million widows with 585 million children.
Of these, 38 million widows live in extreme poverty where basic needs are unmet.
Widows with only female children and child widows aged between 10 and 17 face severe discrimination in many developing countries.
Social norms of behavior remain counterproductive with extreme poverty as a driver of relationships and poor quality health care.
Widows in western and developed countries have also been affected by cutbacks in social welfare and increased insecurity.
Widows are regularly accused of killing their husbands either deliberately or through neglect
Systematic seizure of property and evictions by the late husband’s family remains widespread
Widows are habitually discriminated against, live in extreme poverty, are forced into violent sexual situations, are degraded, and face other terrible realities. In many developing nations, there is a significant age gap between men and the women they marry. Young women are left alone after their significantly older husbands pass away. According to the Research on Women Lifestyle, one third of girls are married before reaching 18, with one in nine marrying before 15 and “Girls ages 15 – 19 are 2 to 6 times more likely to contract HIV than boys of the same age.”
Attitudes toward women and their roles in society need to change before these ladies will be treated with the dignity they deserve. Several organizations recognize that one way to help these women is to empower them economically, allowing them to support themselves. Many Poverty Eradication Organizations specifically work with women, including widows. Trades of Hope works with female artisans in developing nations; they promote and sell handmade goods that the women have created. The Women Entrepreneurs’ Network trains women from all walks of life in business through coaching and mentor-ship programs. Some Networks educates low income women and teaches them lucrative new trades as well as focusing on improving confidence and self-esteem.
These women are not helpless or hopeless by any means, but their struggles are real and should be recognized.
Let’s take this opportunity as we are called to care for the most vulnerable and the most marginalized; we should be appalled by the significant struggles these women face. Today let’s recognize the millions of widows and their children.