Addressing widowhood is critical to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Disinheritance, Discrimination, and Harmful Practices endured by widows in some parts of the world directly links widowhood and poverty (SDG 1), but it's also directly and indirectly linked to most of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Global Fund for Widows maintains that we CANNOT achieve the SDGs of the Agenda 2030 without securing the rights of widows.
- FOOD INSECURITY – SDG 2
- POOR HEALTH – SDG 3
- HIV/AIDS – SDG 3
- POOR EDUCATION – SDG 4
- CHILD MARRIAGE – SDG 5
- CHILD WIDOWHOOD – SDG 5
- HUMAN TRAFFICKING- SDG 8
- EXTREMISM – SDG 10
- SHELTER – SDG 11
- NO ACCESS TO JUSTICE – SDG 16
In the developing world, widows suffer 3 main violations of their rights:
Disinheritance
- Prevented from rightful inheritance, including things brought into marriage or contributed during married years
- May become part of estate and inherited herself
Discrimination
- Prevented from accessing rights
- Prevented government entitlements
- No access to justice
- Social stigma, shame, & taboo
Harmful practices
- Subjected to cleansing rites including cutting, and scarring
- Subjected to intense sexual violence
To find out more about what we do and how we are tackling issues around widowhood in our countries of programming and around the world, please contact us below.
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