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.
A WIDO Case Study
Mrs. Evelyn O. came to report her case to WiDO with her father and her son in October, 2003 She complained that her husband’s relatives did not assist in raising the necessary funds for his burial but before she returned from the hospital they [father-in-law and her husband’s younger brother] ransacked her wardrobe and removed her husband’s bank passbook and other things from the house. Her father-in-law refused Evelyn entry into the compound and to release her personal belongings. They told her that thieves had stolen her things but when she reported the incident to the Traditional Ruler and the Police some of the items were found in her father-in-law’s house, and Evelyn saw members of his family wearing her dresses. After the burial, the younger brother took over her husband’s house in Abuja , ejected his tenants replacing them with new tenants, and refused to account for the new tenants’ rent to Evelyn.
When her little daughter was sick, her in-laws refused to give her the money needed for the child. Evelyn did the best she could with her limited resources, but the child eventually died under unclear circumstances.
At the end of November, 2003, WiDO’s Vanguard Team visited Mrs. Evelyn O. and arranged that a Reconciliation meeting should be organised with both families and take place in the Igwe’s (traditional ruler) Palace. Initially her in-laws ignored the Igwe’s invitations but finally in early March, 2004, a meeting was held in the home of the Igwe’s representative. This was attended by 4 Chiefs from the Igwe’s Cabinet, members of Evelyn’s family and her in-laws, the Investigating Police Officer (IPO) and WiDO’s Vanguard Team. 
The Igwe’s representative handed over the items found in her father-in-law’s house which were checked by the IPO against Evelyn’s inventory. Evelyn selected her personal belongings from the items and took back the bank passbook (with a balance of N70,000.00) It was agreed that Evelyn’s late husband’s H. Bus, which had been in an accident, should be given to his father.
The meeting then moved to Evelyn’s husband’s house so that she could retrieve her personal effects; her father-in-law however initially refused to allow her to take a fridge and a typewriter. After entreaties, consultations and negotiations, he agreed that she should take them. Evelyn requested that she also be given the gas cooker in her late husband’s house in Abuja .
The meeting should then have returned to the Igwe’s representative’s house so as to decide what Evelyn should get from the rest of her late husband’s remaining property. Due to the approaching dusk, the Vanguard Team could not stay for this phase, but returned to Enugu . Mrs. O. promised to inform WiDO of the result of the final negotiations but did not do so.
In May, Mrs. O. told a Vanguard Team member that she was still trying to recover the money in her late husband’s bank account, and that, apart from the personal effects she had collected during their visit, there has been no further mention her share of her late husband’s property. She said that she was thinking of abandoning any further pursuit of the property, except for the gas cooker, as she wants to start her life afresh and forget her traumatic experience.
She thanked WiDO for their efforts on her behalf.
Evelyn came for the Widow Friendly Day in October 2004 and gave her testimony. She had put on weight was very well dressed and mentioned that she hopes to get married again soon.