Anambra governor’s wife, Mrs. Nonye Soludo is advocating better economic and social opportunities and protection for widows who are facing stigma and threats to their basic rights.
Mrs. Soludo who stated this in her statement to mark the 2023 International Windows’ Day in Awka, explained that with many widows facing challenges like poverty, poor health, violence and conflict-related situations, there is need for deliberate policies that prioritize the welfare of women in that category.
The governor’s wife noted that it is equally important to empower widows to empower themselves and their families, and also address social stigmas that create exclusion, bring discrimination and give way to harmful cultural practices against vulnerable women.
She further noted that widows also need to be given full rights to their inheritance including lands and basic economic resources as well as social protection, in addition to equal work pay, education and training.
Mrs. Soludo also expressed dismay that despite continued efforts to end inhuman treatment of widows, there are still cases where they are coerced into participating in harmful, degrading and even life-threatening traditional practices as part of burial and mourning rites.
The Anambra first lady noted that governments at every level should come up with programmes and policies to end violence against widows and their children, poverty alleviation, education as well other interventions to among other things accelerate achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.
She said that governments also need to follow up strongly on laws protecting women, while awareness should be amplified to give them a better understanding of their rights.
On what the state government is doing as it concerns women, Mrs. Soludo noted that the present administration has made significant reforms to give women a voice in governance, provide good ground for security, education, agriculture, commerce, and has also prioritized welfare of women and children by investing massively in the health sector.
International Windows’ Day is marked on June 23 every year, to celebrate widows and to also reflect on issues affecting women around the world that have lost their spouses.
The theme of this year’s celebration is: “Innovation and Technology for Gender Equality.”
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