The 45 CSW details are available from web site with the 2 themes. Nor has any specific reference been made to the wide spread gender- related violence suffered by this vast category of women within the family. Widows' low status, as compared with other women, has far-reaching negative consequences for their health.
Many widows commit suicide in their desperation.
Degrading and harmful mourning and burial rites can further damage their health, in particular in relation to their reproductive and sexual health. They should also examine the consequences of their mothers' widowhood for the girl child, and the plight of child widows. Governments and donors should support and fund social, economic, political and cultural research on how widowhood affects women's health and disseminate the findings. Support should be given to the development and capacity of grass-roots and national organisations of widows who can be involved in empirical research leading to policies reflecting the changing realities of widows' lives.