Representatives from 17 countries, organizations working for empowerment of widows, individual researchers, professionals and activists, among others, have confirmed their participation in the conference that is being jointly organized by a Kathmandu-based organization of single women, Women for Human Rights (WHR) and South Asian network for Widows´ Empowerment in Development (SANWED).[break]
Speaking at a press meet on Sunday, Lily Thapa, founder chairperson of WHR, said that widows worldwide face different degrees of discrimination owing to several cultural and religious beliefs. However, life is further challenging for those living in South Asia, Africa and Middle East. “The society is changing but at snail´s pace. No wonder, widows continue to get stigmatized in our society. The situation is more pathetic in the Tarai belts where child marriage is rampant,” she said. She further pointed out that widow related gender-based violence has not been adequately researched, leading to an utter lack of reliable data regarding them. “Widows often are sexually harassed and exploited with young widows being highly vulnerable to trafficking as well,” she said.
According to the organizers, representatives from Nepal, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Bhutan, Japan, Pakistan, Spain, UK, Austraia, Germany, Japan, USA and Philippines, among other countries, are scheduled to give presentations on the topic. The outcome of the conference would be disseminated during the roundtable workshop at the 57th session of the commission of the status of women to be held on March 2013 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.
Talking to Republica, immigration and asylum lawyer and international focal person of SANWED, Margaret Owen, said that it is important to make the UN body realize the need to mainstream the issues of widows for overall women empowerment in and outside South Asia. “So we aim to take the core message of this international conference to the 57th roundtable session so that more could be done for the disadvantaged group.”
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