As a way of educating widows in the rural areas on the importance of knowing their rights as women and as citizens of the country, The International Federation of women Lawyers,Rivers state chapter(FIDA) held a sensitization campaign at Ogbakiri in Elele, Rivers state.
The event which held at the house of the Royal Highness of Ogbakiri in Elele, had a huge turnout of widows under the umbrella of a charitable organisation known as the Destiny Widows Ministry which was founded as a result of the victimization, widows in the remote areas were facing.
According to the founder, Zach Israel, the ministry started with just three members and grew to more than hundred members with branches in different areas of Rivers state, Bayelsa and Anambra state.
During the lecture by some of the members of the International Federation of women lawyers, the widows were taught on their rights and privileges in both English and their native language. they were taught on the criminal charges that comes with domestic violence, abandonment,rape and child abuse.
in a cross-section interview with some of the widows, they enumerated some of the harmful cultural practices that has been meted on them as a result of them not having husbands.
“When our husbands die, the kinsmen and the Umu Ada would accuse us of killing them,they will throw us out of our houses with our kids most of the time or tell us to take an oath to prove our innocence.
Also, most of the time, the kinsmen or the late husband’s brother, will take over the properties leaving the bereaved woman and her kids with nothing.
After a man dies, the widow who is already bereaved,is also force to be dramatic about it by crying and throwing herself on the ground and most times,you are even asked to pay a fine if you are not dramatic enough.”
The newly enlightened widows expressed their gratitude after the sensitization, and promised to keep in touch with FIDA.
