Annotation:
This publication surveys the prevalence of
abuse suffered by widows, especially those
in the developing world. In addition to
examining region-specific difficulties
facing widows, the author identifies two
main areas of loss: social status and
economic opportunities. Common factors
inducing widowhood include higher
mortality rates for men (often due to
armed conflict), the tendency for younger
women to marry older men, and the
decreased likelihood of women remarrying
after the death of her husband. Denial of
inheritance rights and degrading burial
customs result in poverty and increased
violence against widows, many of whom
endure forced servitude, homelessness and
sexual exploitation. Widow-abuse was
noticeably absent from the Beijing
Platform for Action, perhaps because
little reliable data about widowhood is
available. The authors recommend that
international law should recognize widows
as a vulnerable group requiring unique
protection and assistance.