Secretary-General Stresses Widows’ Rights in Observance Message

 

Following is UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s message for International Widows’ Day, to be observed on 23 June:

No woman should lose her rights when she loses her husband, but an estimated 115 million widows live in poverty, and 81 million have suffered physical abuse.  Girls married to much older men are especially vulnerable.  Let us use International Widows’ Day to advocate for the rights of all widows so they can enjoy better lives and realize their great potential to contribute to our world.

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For information media • not an official record