WUNRN
Togo is a country in West Africa
bordered by Ghana to
the west, Benin to
the east and Burkina Faso to the north
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Fighting Widowhood Practices that
Enable Violence Against Women in
Becoming a widow exposes women to acute forms of
discrimination in regions of
These practices can be so degrading and humiliating for
widows that they contribute to making them even more physically, emotionally
and economically vulnerable. These practices can also constitute grave violations
of women’s fundamental human rights.
In these regions, the weight of tradition forces widows to
become secluded and hidden away from public view. Other widows have to endure
physical abuse during ritual ceremonies believed to confirm their responsibility
or innocence in their husbands’ deaths.
To ‘break the connection’ with their deceased husbands,
widows are socially pressured to have sexual intercourse with another man
before they can enter into another relationship or remarry. Some have no other
option than to seek out strangers to break their cycle of widowhood, exposing
themselves to greater risk of contracting HIV/AIDS and other sexually
transmitted diseases.
A traditional chief in the Canton of Woame,
“Every Tuesday there’s a general hearing in the Chief’s
court. During our arbitration meetings, we sometimes hear our mothers and
sisters complain about various forms of violence against them. Husbands often
don’t understand their wives’ grievances,” he says.
Twelve years ago, Dzedo was elected chairman of the chiefdom
of his community. Thanks to his newfound status, he convinced traditional and
cultural leaders to eradicate harmful and degrading rites for widows. Later, he
participated in a nationwide project to end violence against women with the NGO
Alafia, supported by the then UN Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM).
In 2005, Dzedo ruled on an inheritance dispute between four
sisters and two brothers. After their father’s passing, one of the sons grabbed
all of the deceased’s property and threatened to kill his siblings, especially
his sisters. He claimed that the assets they would acquire from their father’s
estate would become the property of the families his sisters had married into.
“The Council and I told him that old practices were over and
that we must comply with the law. We called for a meeting to divide the
property among the children and eventually all the descendants had a share of
the inheritance.”
Both the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination
against Women and the Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review have
urged
“My wish is that the Togolese government would financially
support traditional leaders, NGOs and other women’s rights organizations, raise
awareness and promote access to widows all over