In the UN Post 2015 MDG Framework Report 'Road to Dignity by 2030’, UN Secretary General, Bank Ki-moon, sets out his vision and said: "We have a shared responsibility to embark on a path to inclusive and shared prosperity."
-Ban Ki Moon, UN General Secretary
Later this month on 23 June, the world will once again turn its focus to the plight of more than 258 million widows worldwide for International Widows Day. On the same date 61 years ago, my own mother was widowed at the age of only 37. Having witnessed the struggles she encountered, not only in bringing up her children alone but facing discrimination and alienation from society for nothing other than losing her husband, I knew I needed to campaign to tackle a situation faced by so many women and their children around the world.
Ten years ago I sought to give the campaign a focal point and International Widows Day was launched. Since then, we’ve taken many positive steps forward and, in 2010, the day was recognised by the UN. Yet whilst I’m proud of the progress that has been made, there is still a huge amount to be done. As women’s rights across the world continue to gain prominence, and rightly so, it is disappointing that the substantial issues faced by widows, particularly in areas such as South Asia, are still largely swept under the carpet. Widows continue to face double discrimination not only on the grounds of being a woman but also in losing their financial security, social status and dignity when their husband dies. When a woman becomes a widow she doesn’t just lose the one she loves, she often loses everything, making her and her children even more vulnerable.
Worldwide each widow has an average of three children and six family members, meaning that this issue doesn’t just affect 258 million; the reality is that more than a billion people are disadvantaged, through no fault of their own. Devastatingly, 1.5million widows’ children in the world die before their fifth birthday. Raising awareness and tackling this intersecting discrimination is at the heart of the Loomba Foundation and International Widows Day. Through our ongoing advocacy and programme work, we give women the skills they need to survive on their own and support their families. The traditional role of women in many societies means that often they haven’t ever been given the opportunity to go to school or join the labour force. We give them this opportunity.
This year we will interview 5,000 widows in the Indian city of Varanasi, with the aim of discovering what industry they wish to join, before ensuring they are suitably trained to do so. This will empower them to take control of their own career and future earning, ultimately providing for their family. Of course, social attitudes towards gender are interwoven with the experiences of widows and these are harder to change. However, change is possible and we must come together to take action – we must not tolerate the inhumane treatment of widows and their children across the globe.
International Widows Day takes place on the 23 June for more information please visit www.theloombafoundation.org/international-widows-day.
