We are all now very aware of the significance of the 23rd June 2016, and I do not mean the Referendum; 23rd June is of course a global day of focus to raise awareness of the plight of widows around the world.
The Referendum, is of course a very important day in our history as it not only affects us but also our children and their children too in the future, and for many more decades to come. Comparing the two events is not really possible but each is significant in its own way.
International Widows Day is now in its 11th year and has grown in the way it is recognised and acknowledged by many nations as well as the United Nations, who adopted the 23rd June as an official United Nations international day in 2010.
The Loomba Foundation launched the World Widows Report at the UN Commission on the Status of Women 60th Session, at the United Nations in New York, 17th March this year. The research shows that number of widows affected globally has increased by 9% since the previous report in 2010. There are now 258 million widows and their 585 million children around the world. Many of them are suffering in extreme poverty, with 38 million widows not having their basic needs met.
The recognition of the problems facing widows and their children still has a long way to go with many of the social customs such as ‘cleansing’ still occurring in some communities across Africa. In addition, there are other problems which widows face such as social injustice, inheritance and human rights. In South Asia the most serious problems surround child marriage, child trafficking and domestic violence which leads physical and psychological abuse as well as prostitution of these vulnerable women and girls. The solution is in our hands, to help poor widows and their children we need to educate and empower them socially and economically.
The 23rd June is a day when we can all do something to help by joining in with the focus on widows and their children and shining a light on a world of suffering and ostracisation that needs to change, and change now. A day of focus on widows and their children is a day when we can all stop and reflect on what can we do to help, what can we do to make a difference? The more people that join in recognising the day and showing that the injustices meted out to widows must stop will make progress faster, quicker and more long-lasting as governments around the world take note of the strength of feeling; and widows and their children realise that they are not alone in the plight.
Our government has promised to lead the world in helping to end violence against women and girls as the United Nations promotes the Leave No One Behind ethos of the Sustainable Development Goals. With this promise and your support we can move to a brighter future for widows and their children.
