This first International Widows’ Day is an occasion to call attention to the many “firsts” that women must face when their husbands die. In addition to coping with grief, they may find themselves for the first time since marriage without any social safety net. Far too often, widows lack access to inheritance（继承，遗传） , land tenure¹（任期，占有） , employment and even the means to survive.

In places where a widow’s status is linked to her husband, she may find herself suddenly shunned² and isolated³. Marriage — whether she desires it or not — may be the only way for a widow to regain⁴ her footing in society.

Of the approximately 245 million widows in our world, more than 115 million live in extreme poverty. In countries embroiled⁵ in（卷入） conflicts, women are often widowed young and must bear the heavy burden of caring for their children amid fighting and displacement⁶ with no help or support.

Some of these widows are teenagers — or even younger. The death of their husbands can leave a terrible legacy⁷ these widows must endure throughout their remaining years.

All widows should be protected by the rights enshrined in（珍藏，铭记） the Convention on the Elimination⁸ of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, and other international human rights treaties.

But in reality, interpretations⁹ of customary codes, as well as traditional mourning and burial rites¹⁰, often deny widows virtually all of their universally recognized rights.

Despite the many difficulties widows face, many make valuable contributions to their countries and communities. Some take on leadership roles at the highest levels. Others work in their families, taking in orphans¹¹, serving as caregivers and reaching across lines of conflict to mend tears in the social fabric¹².

We must recognize the important contribution of widows, and we must ensure that they enjoy the rights and social protections they deserve.

Death is inevitable¹³（必然的） , but we can reduce the suffering that widows endure by raising their status and helping¹⁴ them in their hour of need. This will contribute to promoting the full and equal participation¹⁵ of all women in society. And that will bring us closer to ending poverty and promoting peace around the world.