By: Chetachi Ifeme
As part of activities marking the 2023 International Widows Day, the O.B Lulu-Briggs Foundation in conjunction with the African Women Lawyers Association (AWLA) Rivers State chapter has held an awareness campaign to sensitise women especially widows against engaging in harmful cultural practices.
Speaking at the event which was held in Rumuji Community in Emohua Local Government Area of the state, Coordinator of AWLA, Dr. Hilda Desmond Ihekaire said that most of the evil perpetrated against widows are being carried out by their fellow women as no man would have the guts to shave a woman’s private part or carry out any form of humiliation against a widow, stressing that they enact these laws for women to carry out against their fellow women.
While sensitizing on the existence of laws to protect the right of widows, Ihekaire stated that, “the government have enacted four laws to protect widows in the society. Two out of these laws are, The Violence against Persons Prohibition Law and Rivers State Abolition of Harmful Dehumanizing Practices Law”
She said some of the practices are capable of causing death among the women.
“Some of these women have health challenges prior to the death of their husbands and these practices can lead people like this to early grave,” she added.
Speaking on behalf of the O.B. Lulu-Briggs Foundation, Barrister Dorcas Elekima encouraged the widow’s to speak up when the need arises to avoid intimidation and other forms of dehumanisation being meted out to them by the society through barbaric laws.
” That’s why we are working with AWLA, so that if you know your rights as a human being is being infringed upon simply because your husband is no longer alive, they want to intimidate you or take your lands or what rightfully belongs to your children you can report to us,” she said.
One of the beneficiaries, Mrs Comfort Uchendu encouraged other widows to trust the foundation to come to their rescue in situations beyond their immediate control.
The group earlier paid a courtesy visit on the Paramount Ruler of Rumuji community, HRH, Ohna Christian Okachineke Elechi and his Council of Chiefs.
The traditional ruler while speaking through the secretary of traditional rulers council, Ohna Lambert Njoku thanked the group for recognising the community among other communities in the state.
