Yakin Ertürk, Director, UN Division for the Advancement of Women
...The issues which widows generally face and those encountered by women in developing countries are cause for serious concern. The situation of widows should continue to be featured on the international fora until they become firmly integrated into the policy agenda.
The Women for Human Rights Single Women Group (WHR)
A Sister Organisation In Nepal
The Women for Human Rights Single Women Group (WHR) has been working for the rights of single women (widows) for past eleven years.
WHR has been able to highlight the issue of single women in the 10th five year plan of the country: as a result His Majesty's Government has allocated budget for the empowerment of single women in 15 districts of Nepal.
WHR has been able to change some of the discriminatory laws against single women such as the need to return the property after remarriage and the requirement to be 35 years to be able to get the property of deceased husband. Neither are now necessary.
Similarly WHR filed a case in the Court to annul the requirement that a single woman needed the agreement of a male family member to get a passport. Last year the government decided that women, including single women, do not require a male family member’s permission to get a passport. This provision is applicable not only to Single Women but to other women as well.
WHR together with Pro-Public, another NGO, filed a case against the need for single women (widows) to get consent from their 16 years old sons regarding their share of the matrimonial property.
The Supreme Court on Thursday 15 December 2005 ruled that women are not required to obtain consent from their father, husband, son and unmarried daughter if they wish to sell and hand over ownership of their property.
From WRI Newsletter 6 - Full copies of the Newsletter available from WRI office