UN holidays - International Widow's Day

Armed conflicts, earthquakes, accidents and man-made disasters claim the lives of millions of men. Their wives remain widows, often with children in their arms. In many countries of the world, women who have lost moral support, a loved one and a friend are denied inheritance and rights to real estate by the state. This injustice, as well as social cruelty and violence, plunges widows, deprived of their usual social status, and their families into poverty. Children who are left without fathers are put under pressure - they are expelled from schools and colleges, limiting their ability to get an education and lead a decent life. In many cultures, the status of a widow is associated with witchcraft and black magic, which is grounds for taking their life. A celebration established by the UN is called upon to put an end to this obscurantism and cruelty towards women. By decision of the General Assembly, June 23 is celebrated annually as International Widows Day. The proposal to include International Widow's Day in the calendar, which was first held in 2005, was submitted to the UN by the President of Gabon. The head of state in Central Africa cited a seminal study that said there were 245 million widows in the world in 2010, almost half of whom lived below the poverty line due to the loss of their husbands. They are expelled from their own homes, humiliated and ostracized. More than 500 million children living in different parts of the planet who are left without fathers suffer from this attitude. Not only the President of Gabon, but also the founders of the Loomba Trust, which is dedicated to improving the lives of widows, reported this situation to the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. Indian Radi Lumba created a foundation in honor of his mother, who single-handedly raised seven children after the death of her husband. The Loomba Trust campaigns against unfair treatment of women and strives to erase the stigma associated with widowhood. The Foundation advocates for reducing poverty, providing children and their mothers with the opportunity to integrate into society - to undergo training and obtain a decent profession. Prejudice, superstition and discrimination today make life miserable for 258 million widows around the world. To give these women rights, there is a need for legal reform in India, Afghanistan, Republic of Congo, Tibet, Nepal, Pakistan, Tanzania and other countries in accordance with international law. According to a number of conventions, discrimination against women and children is unacceptable in the modern world. In honor of International Widows Day, lectures, seminars and other educational events are held. On June 23, charity evenings are organized to raise funds, which are used to educate children and help families left without breadwinners.