Blog of Berthe De Vos Neven, SI Representative to the United Nations in Geneva. 

This two day seminar on Widows: Challenges, gaps, and best practices, hosted on October 17 and 18 at the UN in Geneva, was organised by Widow’s Rights International and Co-organised by Soroptimist International.

Five years ago, I attended a side event of the Human Rights Council (HRC) focused on issues affecting widows, unsure of what to expect. With only eight people in attendance, including the speakers, the event proved to be transformative, fundamentally shifting my perspective on this critical issue.

Today, I was especially gratified to see an audience of over fifty participants, as well as other Soroptimists over the course of the two days, all eager to deepen their understanding of the importance of raising awareness and advocating for the inclusion of the term “widows.” By bringing attention to the often-overlooked challenges faced by widows, we emphasise the urgent need to protect their rights through concrete action.

The seminar convened international experts from civil society, Member States, advocates, and policymakers to address the critical challenges faced by widows of all ages on all levels. Speakers, ranging in age from 21 to 92, came from diverse backgrounds, representing diverse regions worldwide sharing personal stories. Many recounted the experiences of their mothers, grandmothers, and others who, upon becoming widowed, found themselves in dire situations, often neglected and forgotten by their communities and society at large.

The discussions covered a wide array of topics, including violence against widows, harmful traditional practices, the rights of widows in conflict zones, inheritance rights, and the need to implement international legal frameworks as a basis for real, actionable change.

Soroptimists participation in the seminar was a continuation of our efforts at the Human Rights Council’s 56th and 57th sessions, where we had the opportunity to deliver both oral and written statements on the status of widows within and beyond UN legislative frameworks. These efforts focused on the urgent need for the UN to formally acknowledge the unique struggles faced by widows worldwide, ensuring that they, too, can fully enjoy their human rights.

Through our engagement on the UN platform, Soroptimist International aims to inspire both advocacy and tangible legislative reforms to improve the well-being of widows globally. This seminar was both inspiring and impactful, attracting a larger, more engaged audience than we had seen five years prior, marking significant progress in the collective understanding and support for this critical cause. We need to keep this momentum alive through all levels.