Widows’ Rights Are Human Rights: Advocating for Change

International Widows Day a global observance dedicated to raising awareness about the challenges faced by widows around the world.

- VINOD CHANDRASHEKHAR DIXIT

To become a widow is to experience profound personal tragedy. For many women around the world, the devastating loss of a partner is magnified by a long-term fight for their basic rights and dignity. Despite the fact that there are more than 258 million widows around the world, widows have historically been left unseen, unsupported, and unmeasured in our societies.The ordinary term for a widow in India is “vidhwa” which originates from the Sanskrit word “vidh” which means “to be destitute”. There are around 55 million widows in India. It is well known that in India widows tend to face many difficulties and deprivations because of negative social attitudes towards them and social restrictions that are placed upon them and their activities. Indian family as a social institution is well known for the emotional and physical support that it providers, for its extended members, many a time but it fails to respond the needs of women, especially for women in difficu