RESPONDENTS CONDEMN OBNOXIOUS WIDOWHOOD PRACTICES IN EBONYI

REPORTER: REGINA IDUME

People have been advised to stop all form of descriminations and maltreatment against widows.

Some residents of Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, gave the advice while speaking with Radio Nigeria on the International Widowhood Day being observed today around the globe.

International Widows Day is celebrated on June 23 every year.

The day is a special day established by the United Nations Assembly and dedicated to addressing the poverty and injustice faced by millions of widows and their dependents.

A human rights activist and legal practictioner,
Mr. Nkem Chukwu, described widowhood as difficult and traumatic situation, especially when the woman is still young.

She called on spirited individuals, civil society organisations, non governmental organizations and government to always ensure that widows all over the world were given the support they needed to go through that incredibly difficult situation.

According to Mr. Chukwu, women, especially widows, have at one time and other been denied their rights to inheritance and called for elimination of some cultures in different parts of the world where they see widows as being cursed or associated with the practice of witchcraft.

Another respondent, Mrs. Vera Okereke, described as a wrong mindset the attitude of some communities where widows were separated from other members of community and even from their children, stressing that it was inhuman treatment and abomination before God.

Mrs. Okereke called for more friendly measures, programmes and policies that would strengthen widows in the society to give them hope.

The theme of the 2023 International Widows Day is “Innovation and Technology for Gender Equality.”

EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU