SECURITY AGENCIES MUST ARREST FAMILY HEADS WHO ABUSE RIGHTS OF WIDOWS

Human Right Activist, Nana Oye Lithur has urged security agencies to deal with people who flout the PNDC law 111 to abuse the rights of widows.

She repeated the need for the state to protect women especially widows against intimidation and abuse from family members who normally take advantage of the death of the spouse to deprive the grieving widow of her inheritance.
Nana Oye Lithur identified lack of enforcement as the reason behind the increase in the cases of human rights abuse of widows.
Nana Oye was speaking in connection with the commemoration of the World Widows day which falls today.
CUE IN: OYE ON WIDOWS

The UN Secretary-General, Mr Ban Ki-Moon in his statement to mark the Day, said this is the first time the U.N is celebrating the day. He called for support for these women most of whom have lost their partners through very traumatic circumstances.
Mr Ban said of the approximately 245 million widows in the world, more than 115 million live in extreme poverty. In countries embroiled in conflicts, women are often widowed young and must bear the heavy burden of caring for their children amid fighting and displacement with no help or support.

Some of these widows are teenagers – or even younger. The death of their husbands can leave a terrible legacy these widows must endure throughout their remaining years.

Mr Ban said all widows should be protected by the rights enshrined in the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and other international human rights treaties.
END.