Yakin Ertürk, Director, UN Division for the Advancement of
Women: supporting our conference in 2001
.... "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.
Our Partner - WiDO
The Widows Development Organisation (WiDO) is a NGO which
supports the human rights of widows in Nigeria
WiDO’s aims and objectives
- To sensitise the general public on the plight of widows.
- To bring about change in the social status of widows
- To create awarenesss on the rights of widows and other women in the areas of basic education, legal awareness, income generating activities (small scale industries, trading arts and crafts), health and population, agriculture and environment
- To encourage educational support programmes for children of widows.
- To provide counselling and support centres
- To source for funds and mobilise resources for the organisation
- To lend support to and cooperate with local, national and international organisation with similar purpose.
WiDO helps widows in the following ways:
- It assists widows to obtain legal protection or redress when they have been dispossessed of their belongings and inheritance.
- It enables them to hire lawyers and negotiate with their relatives
- It creates an avenue to facilitate negotiations with the extended families
- It provides training for support groups in Advocacy and Campaigning
- It has set up the Vanguard Team which engages in mediation efforts with the husband’s relatives. Team members also make appearances in court and attend the husband’s burial if it has not already taken place.
Read about the Bill on the prohibition of infringement of widows and widowers fundamental rghts