Advocacy Groups Call For End To Harmful Practices Against Widows
In a concerted effort to address the mistreatment and harmful traditional practices faced by widows, the non-governmental organization Total Life Concern (TLC) has partnered with the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Nigeria to advocate for the end of inhumane treatment against widows.
During a recent conference commemorating the 2024 International Widow’s Day, both groups reaffirmed their commitment to tackling these harmful cultural practices.
Edirin Essiet, a lawyer and convener of TLC, emphasized the need to end the maltreatment of widows and vulnerable women, enabling them to exercise their rights as citizens. She criticized those perpetuating these acts for their insensitivity and highlighted the silent suffering endured by widows under the guise of culture and tradition.
“Society forgets that a widow is a daughter, sister, and mother, and equally a human who suddenly became a widow. That she lost her husband does not make her less human,” Essiet stated.
She detailed the severe hardships faced by widows in some communities, describing practices such as being confined to a single spot, denied basic hygiene, and ostracized from social interactions. These barbaric treatments, she noted, severely affect their physical and mental health.
Essiet stressed the importance of protecting vulnerable individuals, saying, “In Nigeria, widows are neglected, victimized, intimidated, and humiliated. The worst part is when a widow doesn’t have a male child, her husband’s relatives give her real trouble, trying to take possession of what their late brother acquired.”
To address these issues, Essiet highlighted the collaboration with FIDA and other bodies to provide legal support and advocacy for widows to demand their rights.
Guest speaker Adetunji Adeoye, a lawyer, recommended empowerment and education as solutions to combat these injustices. He appealed to families to amend their disdain and disinheritance of widows, though acknowledging that much work remains to be done.
Adeoye emphasized the global scale of widowhood challenges, noting that approximately 258 million widows worldwide, including 15 million in Nigeria, have been robbed of their basic human rights and dignity. He pointed out that widows are often denied inheritance rights, face property grabs, and endure extreme stigma and discrimination.
“Patriarchal cultures cruelly consign widows to remain unseen, unsupported, and forced to navigate their grief, loss, or trauma without social welfare or justice,” Adeoye said. He called for government and policymakers to adopt social and economic reforms to improve widows’ access to inheritance, land, pensions, and social protection.
Adeoye also urged NGOs, faith-based organizations, and corporate bodies to support initiatives that prioritize widows’ employment, education, business capital, healthcare, and psychological counselling. He called for a general campaign to prohibit the mistreatment of widows under cultural or traditional pretences and stressed the need for education and information to counter the culture of silence and abuse against widows.
Joan Faluyi, executive director of Blossomflow Foundation, donated 300 sanitary pads for widows’ teenage girls and advised widows to prioritize their health. “Although often regarded as impure and subjected to strict mourning practices, a widow’s health needs should not go unaddressed,” she said.
Widows Ngozi Agu, Cynthia Abel, and Pat Audu shared their harrowing experiences, underscoring the urgent need for societal change to protect and support widows.
