Bandundu, June 23rd, 2026 (CPA).- The population of Bandundu, in Kwilu, in the south-west of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), has been urged to respect and protect widows to promote their well-being and social integration, during a discussion on Tuesday to mark International Widows’ Day.
“I call on the public to respect, honour and protect widows in order to promote their rights and empowerment, with the aim of building a fairer, more supportive and inclusive society,” has declared Marie-Aimee Kapinga, Head of the Provincial Division for Gender, Family and Children (GFAE/Kwilu). “This day provides an opportunity to raise awareness within the community of the many difficulties faced by widows, including discrimination, social exclusion, violence and barriers to accessing education, employment, healthcare and inheritance rights,” she has added. She has indicated that the defence of widows’ dignity involves combating all forms of discrimination against them and guaranteeing their fundamental rights.
“I urge the population to show solidarity with widows by protecting their rights; thereby helping to strengthen social cohesion and build a better future for these women, who often face great poverty”, has said Ms Kapinga. She has also advocated for better care for orphans from mourning families, in particular by ensuring that their rights to inheritance and family property are respected. “Widows and their children need moral, psychological, social and economic support to overcome the many challenges they face,” she has concluded. CPA/