Government, community leaders and other stakeholders must work together to eliminate all forms of negative widowhood practices that subject widows to inhuman treatments in their communities.
The call was made by respondents who spoke with TNC correspondent in Awka, on the significance of the International Widows’ Day.
The International Day marked every 23rd June, globally, to raise public consciousness towards the plight of widows and to draw attention towards the voices of widows and highlight their problems.
A United Nations (UN) ratified day of action, the Day also focuses on addressing the poverty and injustice faced by millions of widows and their dependents in several countries of the world.
The theme for this year’s International Widow Day is “Invisible Women, Invisible Problems.
A Women Rights advocate, Miss Eucharia Onyemobi who noted that widowhood is not by choice, regretted that negative practices against widows are still perpetrated in the local communities in the state, despite the global efforts at ending the anomaly.
According to her, the trend is driven by obnoxious traditional practices that dehumanize the women and infringe on their fundamental rights as human beings.
“In some of our communities, it is appalling that issues of negative widowhood practices continue to rear its ugly head up. Recently, there was this issue of a widow asked to drink the water used to bath her husband’s corpse in Ihiala LGA of Anambra State. Whether or not that is true, that represents in microcosm, the negative disposition of some persons and communities towards these women whose crimes is only that they lost their husbands. There are also cases of deprivation of property, persecution, forceful remarrying, shaving of hairs, rape and other forms of abuse against widows in Anambra State. The society must begin to recognize that these women are only victims of the unfortunate death of their husbands and begin to treat them the way they deserve,” she said.
A litigation lawyer and Resident Counsel, Federation of International Female Lawyers, FIDA, Barr Chekwube Ezekwike revealed that various channels abound for widows to seek help when they are oppressed or their rights violated.
According to her, it is regrettable that most of these channels are not fully explored, resulting in the continued suppression of voices of millions of widows across the world.
“In Anambra, there are still channels available for widows to seek help when they feel oppressed or abused or their rights have been infringed on. They can report to the Police station or any non-governmental organization or human rights organization like the FIDA. They can also look for a litigation lawyer who will institute litigation on their behalf in courts for enforcement of their rights. In Anambra, there are many laws that protect the rights of the widows such as the Widowhood Rights Law of Anambra State,” the legal luminary revealed.
Barr Ezekwike also called on the society to show love, support and care to the widows who she noted, are facing serious challenges due to the demise of their partners.
In her words, “We can take care of them by staying connected with them not abandoning them. Take up some of their children and sponsor them in school, assist them financially to set up means of livelihood especially now that things are very difficult. So as we celebrate the International Widows Day, it is time to show love, care and support t them.”
On her part, the Director, Women Affairs, in Anambra Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs, Mrs Hope Ekesiobi said the state has done well to provide support and empowerment packages to widows in Anambra State.
