Cherie: 'It's vital to support impoverished
widows' |
Widows in
developing countries should be given greater support to save them from
poverty, Cherie Booth QC has said.
The prime minister's wife has named 23 June International Widows Day to
highlight the injustices faced by widows across the world.
The day is being organised by The Loomba Trust, a UK-based charity
committed to educating at least 100 children in each of India's 29 states.
The Trust champions the rights of widows, including those hit by HIV.
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 The stigma and low status of widows in
developing countries often leads to children living in real
poverty 
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It says widows in many developing countries face real hardship and
bring up their children in poverty. The Trust is trying to help remove the
stigma associated with losing a husband.
Ms Booth said: "Millions of women throughout the world find themselves
impoverished and isolated by the death of their husband and it is vital
that we do whatever we can to support them and raise awareness of their
plight.
"The stigma and low status of widows in developing countries often
leads to children living in real poverty.
"International Widows Day will help the Loomba Trust and others secure
a better future for poor widows and their children."
'Invisible' people
The Loomba Trust was founded by Raj Loomba in memory of his mother,
Shrimati Pushpa Wati Loomba, who brought up seven young children on her
own following the death of her husband from tuberculosis.
Mr Loomba chose 23 June as International Widows Day as this was the
date in 1954 when his mother became a widow at the age of 37.
The Loomba Trust educates more than 2,000 children of widows across
India and expects to give lessons to at least 100 children of poor widows
in each of the 29 states of India by 2007.
Mr Loomba said: "Millions of widows and their children are the poorest
of the poor, often invisible, forgotten and unheard.
"The dramatic rise in the numbers of widows is often caused by
unsuitable working conditions, poor nourishment medical care and hygiene,
and it is exacerbated by armed conflict, ethnic cleansing, HIV and Aids.
"In any countries across Africa, Asia and elsewhere, widows can lose
their human rights, land and property, and can be exposed to violence and
abuse.
"When the husband dies, the widow often loses her legal status and
financial support."
The Loomba Trust says its statistics suggest 50% of all women are
impoverished widows and more than 60% of children are dependent on widowed
mothers for their survival.
