Womenfolk across Douala, traditional chiefs and administration held discussions to eliminate the ills - cultural and social - in the Banquet Hall of the Littoral Governor's Office in Douala on June 26.
Besides the painful experience of having missed a male spouse, the widow is commonly subjected discrimination and malpractices from families and society. The most common forms of violations include the obligation to sleep on bamboos for nine days, have their hair cut throughout 30 days following the death of a male spouse as well as live in seclusion for 21 days. These practices are exacerbated in some families through confiscation of properties or expulsion from the family.
But social discrimination remains high, according to womenfolk in the Littoral speaking at a roundtable debate chaired by Ludovic Ngwba, Secretary General at the Littoral Governor's Office on June 26. Widows whose spouses died in active service or as retirees said they think government should be the only logical solace to their plight. They expressed disappointments with complicated administrative procedures to obtain their husband's pension benefits which makes it difficult catering for their children. For example, one of the widows raised the situation whereby she married after the death of her husband but was discontinued the pension of her late husband simply on the basis of her new marriage despite the kids she had with him and has to cater for.
On their part, officials of the Public Service explained the many new measures put in place since October 2012, to ease the burden of the widows. The Ministry has decentralised the treatment of files from widows claiming the pension of their spouses and now ensures that female employees of the public service who lost their husbands while in service receive most, if not all, of their salaries. Such files must consist of full names and addresses of widow, a common feature that was neglected by most widows.
Every year on June 23, the rights of widows come into the spotlight. Considering that the Day fell on a Sunday, commemorative activities took place in the Littoral regional capital, Douala, on Wednesday, June 26. The theme, "Act together to stop discriminatory practices and customs against widows" sets the premise for reflections throughout this year, according to the Regional Delegate of Women's Empowerment and Family, Elong Emilienne Alice.