We are pleased to announce that Soroptimist International is co-sponsoring a two day seminar organised by Widows Rights International on ‘Widows: Challenges, Gaps and Best Practices’, that will take place on 17 and 18 October 2024 at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. This is an in-person event.

The seminar will focus on:

• Best practices from around the world
• Legislation – harmful practices, advocacy and action

Find out more information here

Schedule:

17 October:

10.00 – 13.00 hrs:
Background
Welcome and Introduction – Zarin Hainsworth, Chair Widows Right International
Historical Overview – Margaret Owen, Founder and President, Widows for Peace
Data – Ms. Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda, UN Assistant Secretary-General and UN Women
Deputy Executive Director for NormaAve Support, UN System Coordination, and Programme Results
Widows and Agenda 2030 – Lia Wortsman, UN Geneva Representative, Global Fund for
Widows
Widows of all ages – Faith Mwangi-Powell, Executive Director, Girls not Brides
Food for thought discussions
Q & A
Overview – Berthe de Vos Neven – UN Geneva Permanent Representative, Soroptimist International
Violence Against Women and Girls – Patricia Elias Advocacy Ambassador Everywoman Treaty
Widows in conflict – Agnieszka Fal Dutra Santos, Graduate Institute, Geneva
Widows in DRC – Richie Lontulungu, Chef du Cabinet, National Human Rights Commission of
the DRC
Children of Widows in Tanzania – Rebecca Mollel, Naserian
Poem on widows – Chinwe Cross
Member State – Albania
Food for thought discussions
Q & A
Suggestions for action & Offers of advocacy

15.00 – 18.00 hrs:

Legislation
Using international legal instruments and the UN system – Ms. Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda,
UN Assistant Secretary-General and UN Women Deputy Executive Director for NormaAve
Support, UN System Coordination, and Programme Results
Using legislation for widows – Upasana Rana, Executive Director, Women for Human Rights,
single women group (WHR)
Using international legal instruments for Child Widows – UNICEF
Inheritance rights and family law – Hyshyama Hamin – Equal family law
Widows and IT – Abdullah Ezdeg, international education science and development
foundation, Morocco
Food for thought discussions
Q & A
Use of CEDAW, Beijing +30, and UN SCR 1325 – Margaret Owen, WPD
Analysis of national information on widows – Latter Day Saints Charities
ILO –
National machineries – Dr Alejandro Bonilla Garcia – President Association Former
International Civil Servants for Development
IPU –
Member State – UK
Member State – Egypt
Food for thought discussions
Q & A
Suggestions for action
Offers of advocacy

18 October 2024:

10.00 – 13.00 hrs:
Harmful Traditional Practices
Widows in Nigeria – Dr Nkechi Linda Ifediora, NHS UK
Inheritance trapping – Dianah Kumande, Orphans and Widows Together, Kenya
Older widows – Ken Bluestone, Chair of the Global Alliance for the Rights of Older People;
Head of Policy and Influencing, Age International
Child Widows – Imogen Hurley
Widows in Libya – Rugya Muttawa, Founder Hope Organisation, Libya
Food for thought discussions
Q&A
Widows in Nepal – Upasana Rana, Executive Director, Women for Human Rights, single
women group (WHR)
Widows and multiple births – Akaninyene Nita, researcher, Nigeria
Widows in Kenya – Lucy Naluta Nduati, Holly Hock, Bread of Hope Foundation, Kenya
Widows in Ghana – Nana Kwaku Yeboah, International Maritime Oganisation, Ghana
Widows as mothers – Melanie Nedelec, Make Mothers Matter

Member State – Cambodia
Member State – Sierra Leone
Food for thought discussions

Q&A

15.00 – 18.00 hrs:
Best Practice
Recognising Capacity – Lili Nkunzimana, Deputy Permanent Representative, BIC NY
Widows as entrepreneurs – Rugya Muttawa, Founder Hope Organisation, Libya
Changing community attitudes – Alais Eseto Sima, Coordinator, Naserian Tanzania
Congo Advocacy Toolkit – Richie LONTULUNGU, Chef du Cabinet Human Rights Commission
Democratic Republic of Congo
Providing medical services – Nabil Benmir, Algerian Women’s Association
Member State – Poland
Food for thought
Q & A
Sports and social enterprise – Jummah Alsileeni, Engineering Organisation for Development,
Libya
Collecting data – Upasana Rana, Executive Director, Women for Human Rights, single women
group (WHR)
Social development projects – Mr BOUHADDOU KHALID Association Tizigzoute pour
l’environnement et développement, Morocco
Funding for widows organisations – Widows Rights International
Member State – Ghana
Member State – Finland
Food for thought
Q&A
Suggestions for action
Offers of advocacy