About International Widow’s Day

Every year on the 23rd of June, International Widows Day shines a spotlight on the experiences of widows around the world.

Founded by the Loomba Foundation in 2005 and adopted by the United Nations as an official observance day in 2011, the day draws attention to the extreme poverty, social stigmatisation and human rights abuses that millions of widows, of all ages, face across the world. 

From armed conflict, sexual violence and limited education and employment, to the denial of inheritance rights, property grabs and forced displacement - the hardships and discrimination widows encounter globally is almost beyond comprehension. In some parts of the world, widows also face significant stigma, harmful practices and exclusion from community life.

These realities matter. They deserve recognition, attention and action.

International Widow’s Day is a call to action for all governments, organisations and communities to uphold the basic rights of widows wo...

 Although I specialise in widowhood, my work frequently brings me into contact with people navigating many forms of loss including the death of a parent, a sibling, a friend or a child sometimes due to mental ill health, suicide or terminal illness. Over time, I’ve seen that while the shape of grief varies, the need for compassion, recognition and community remains the same. That’s why, in this blog, I am stepping beyond my widow-specific experiences to reflect and honour the full landscape of grief, by shining a spotlight on the various grief or bereavement-related awareness days, weeks and months that run throughout the year. 

They give us space to acknowledge the full spectrum of loss and to stand with anyone living through it, including widows whose stories contain many layers of grief. These moments in the calendar are not just symbolic; they deepen understanding, spark conversation, and remind us that grief is universal - even though its expressions are deeply personal.

JANUARY...