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...