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 and it is the first time that widows’ issues are being addressed at the United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG). The event has been organised at the request of the Human Rights Council (HRC) as a result of engagement with several organisations during the HRC 56th session which took place in June this year.
The seminar will focus on:
- Best practices from around the world
- Legislation – harmful practices, advocacy and action
Find out more information here
Watch a video about this event
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 Through Democracy
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 Representative to the UN
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 Normative 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, Senior Acturial Adviser to the Deputy Director General for Policy, International Labour Organisation (ILO)
Federation of Associations of Former International Civil Servants for Development (FAFICS)
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