International Widows' Day
June 23 · Level 3 · #1730 of 2238
International Widows' Day draws attention to the rights of women whose spouses have died and the needs of their families. Bereavement can be compounded by lost income, insecure housing, exclusion or barriers to inheritance.
How it is celebrated: charities and rights organisations hold awareness campaigns, discussions and events supporting widows and their children. Education, legal assistance and opportunities to earn an independent income are recurring themes.
The date has a personal origin: the mother of Raj Loomba, whose foundation initiated the observance, became a widow on 23 June 1954.