WUNRN
India NGO CSW57 LIAISON GROUP ~
REQUESTS INDIAN GOVERNMENT TO PROPOSE
“WIDOWHOOD”
as “Emerging
Issue” for the 57th UN CSW
Each year, at
the CSW, an "emerging issue" is identified,
selected in response to the trends, developments, and new approaches to issues
affecting the situation of women, or equality between women and men, that
urgently require a focused consideration from which can emerge recommendations.
One of the
most neglected of all gender and human rights issues is widowhood. In recent decades, the numbers of widows of all ages have risen
unprecedentedly due to armed conflict, HIV and AIDS, harmful traditional
practices (such as child marriages to older men), and the increase in elderly
population worldwide where the majority of older people are women/widows. In
developing countries and conflict afflicted zones especially widows experience
extreme stigma, discrimination, abuse and violence but often are unable to
access justice systems for their protection or support. Widows are the poorest
of the poor and their poverty and marginalization deprives their children of
their human rights to shelter, food, education, and future employment and life
quality. The global economic crisis is also affecting widows dependent on
pensions and state support in developed countries. The Beijing Platform of
Action makes no reference to widowhood and
this ever-increasing sub-sect of women, who have crucial roles as sole parents
and heads of household, have not had the attention of governments they deserve.
Neglecting this gender and human rights issue affects the whole of society and
its future, frustrating other initiatives to reduce poverty, eliminate GBV, and
promote justice and democracy without which there can be no stability or peace.
This support has already been taken by NGO’s in UK. The
Indian’s support for it would greatly strengthen this campaign.
To support this
initiative and for further information:
Contact: Dr. V.
Mohini Giri - guildofserviceni@yahoo.com