Alliances for Africa observe 2023 International Widows Day in Imo
As the world observed it’s 2023 International Widows Day, Alliances for Africa joins hands with individuals, organizations, and communities globally to raise awareness about the challenges faced by widows and advocate for their rights and empowerment.
According to, Ms. Iheoma Obibi Executive Director, Alliances for Africa, This annual day, celebrated on June 23rd, presents an opportunity to shed light on the plight of widows and work towards creating a more inclusive and supportive society for them. According to the United Nations Trust Fund on Ending Violence Against Women, widows, who number over 258 million worldwide, have historically been overlooked, unsupported, and marginalized in our societies. Nigeria alone is estimated to have approximately 15 million widows, with factors such as the rise of Covid-19, ethnic conflicts, terrorism, violence, and health issues exacerbating the prevalence of widowhood and leaving more than 80% of these women in vulnerable circumstances due to the loss of their partners.
International Widows Day serves as a platform to spotlight the daily challenges, struggles, and discrimination faced by widows. For instance, consider the story of Hanna, a young widow in her early forties, who faced unimaginable challenges following the death of her husband. Her husband was tragically murdered by a relative, and without her consent, the perpetrators hastily carried away his body for burial on the same day. As if that weren’t enough, she and her children were immediately driven out of the family house, disregarding their physical, emotional, and psychological well-being. Shockingly, this incident took place in 2021, highlighting the continued victimization of widows.
The harmful cultural practice of “Nkuchi Nwanyi,” which involves the forceful inheritance of a widow by her deceased husband’s brother, is another issue of concern.
In the Akabor community of Oguta, Imo State, the vulnerable women who resist or refuse this unjust tradition not only face the hardships of being stripped of their role as farmers on communal land but also endure the absence of support and protection they desperately need at this stage in their lives. This form of disinheritance is compounded by the denial of their rightful position if their deceased husband was the first son in the family, further subjecting them to economic, emotional, and psychological violence.
Additionally, the harmful practice of stigmatization and isolation of widows persists in the Amaigbo community, Imo State.
This age-old culture, for which the community cannot provide justification, isolates widows from the palace regardless of weather conditions. This appalling practice perpetuates stigmatization, denies the freedom of association, and represents a complete contradiction to the domesticated Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) law in the state, which aims to protect the rights of women.
They group went further to say, that they will not ignore the various other forms of economic insecurity, stereotypes, and
barbaric traditional practices widows face on a daily basis, including the dehumanizing
rituals of hair shaving, ritual cleansing, and the drinking or bathing with corpse water.
These practices have severe consequences on widows and perpetuate discrimination,
reinforce gender inequalities, and hinder the overall development of our communities.
They are acts of violence against women.
As a feminist organization dedicated to protecting and promoting gender justice, equality, and human rights, Alliances for Africa acknowledges the urgent need to address the vulnerabilities faced by widows in our communities. We strive to safeguard and advance the rights of widows in Nigeria and beyond, working towards a world where they can live with dignity and autonomy.
Widowhood is an inherently challenging period for any woman, marked by the loss of a loved one and the subsequent adjustments to a new life. The additional burden imposed
by society and harmful widowhood practices further intensifies their suffering and violates their fundamental human rights. With the support of the United Nations Trust Fund on
Ending Violence Against Women, we firmly reject harmful widowhood practices in all
regions.
” We say NO to patriarchy, which perpetuates gender inequalities and restricts the rights
and opportunities of women. We vehemently oppose harmful widowhood practices in Imo
State, Nigeria, and worldwide, and call upon women to support one another and refuse
to participate in or allow the dehumanization of widows. Today’s challenges may become
our own tomorrow if we fail to challenge the status quo” She asserted.
