International Widows’ Day is observed across the world on 23 June. The day aims to gather support for widows and to spread awareness about their situation. For several women, the hurtful loss of a partner is magnified by a long-term struggle for their basic rights and dignity. International Widows’ Day is a day of action to address the “poverty and injustice faced by millions of widows and their dependents in many countries”. The main objective of the activities is to create awareness about the condition of widows and protect their rights.
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International Widows’ Day 2022: Theme
The theme for last year’s International Widows’ Day was “Invisible Women, Invisible Problems”. This year’s theme is – “Sustainable Solutions for Widows Financial Independence”.
International Widows’ Day 2022: Significance
The Widow’s Day page on the United Nations website states that the Covid-19 pandemic, armed conflicts, migration, and displacement left tens of thousands of women newly widowed.
International Widows’ Day: History
- The day was established by The Loomba Foundation to raise awareness about the issue of widowhood.
- June 23 was chosen as the day to mark International Widows’ day as it was on this day in 1954 that Shrimati Pushpa Wati Loomba, mother of Lord Loomba, became a widow.
- The first International Widows Day took place in 2005 and was launched by Lord Loomba and Cherie Blair, the foundation’s president.
- The day was formally adopted as International Widows’ Day by the United Nations on 21 December 2010, the sixth edition.
- June 23 has been observed as International Widows’ Day since 2011 by the United Nations.