First International Widows Day

[Lahore_Real_Estate]

THE first International Widows Day has been introduced by the United Nations. Cherie Blair, who has been the champion of this cause ever since she was the First Lady of the United Kingdom, applauded the recognition of this sector of society who amounted to at least ‘245 million’ all over the world.

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon endorsed this view, acknowledging the role of widows and ensuring their rights. Pakistan should take up the issue as it accounts for the plight of widows from the poor strata of society. A majority of them face violence, degradation and poverty at the hands of society.

However, nowadays widows belonging to the privileged class also face these problems and fight against those taking advantage of them.

Widows have to take a tough stand against relatives who claim ownership of their property. They also have to fight against the various mafias or tenants who do not vacate their property, taking advantage of their vulnerable position. The various departments and others who dealt only with their spouses also take advantage of them.

NGOs should take up the issue to fight for these women’s rights in the court of law.

Many of these helpless and poor widows drown in the sea of violence and degradation, as most of the time they are barely able to keep their heads above the water.