The First Lady Jeannette Kagame, yesterday, joined her Gabonese counterpart, Sylvia Ondimba Bongo, for the celebration of the International Day of Widows in the capital Libreville.

Celebrated every year on June 23, the International Day of Widows was adopted after the adoption by consensus at the United Nations General Assembly, in December 2010.

The important milestone was reached following a resolution proposed by Gabon, then presiding the UN Security Council, as stated in the co-signed article by the First Ladies of Gabon and Rwanda, published on the occasion of this 6th recognition of the day dedicated to widows around the world.

Held at the major NzengAyong roundabout, yesterday’s celebration brought together one-stop centres’ stands, organised by the Sylvia Odimba Bongo Foundation, to provide legal and administrative support to widows with pending cases, thanks to the support of the Gabonese Ministry of Health, National Solidarity and Social Planning, lawyers, and various administrative entities.

Also present at the celebration were several associations of widows who showcased their various products (ranging from agricultural products to art crafts and textile items).

The City of Libreville also saw on this day, a number of volunteers distribute brochures explaining the administrative and legal mechanisms put in place to help protect the rights of widows.

The event served as an occasion for both first ladies to reaffirm once more their commitment towards improving the lives of the most vulnerable people in different communities, and bring the much-needed awareness on the plight of the 258 million widows worldwide, among whom over 100 million live in extreme poverty. Of these 81 million are the victims of sexual abuse, while over 1 million of their children die before the age of five.

"These figures speak volumes on the urgency of actions to be taken across nations to ensure the respect of the rights of these women, and their children, to a dignified life, while supporting all women to unlock their full potential and contribute to the economic development of their nations,” said a statement.

Following the event, both first ladies joined a number of Women Leaders representing various political and socio-economic institutions, for a luncheon to discuss the status of women empowerment in Gabon, according to a statement.

This visit by Mrs Kagame to Gabon also included a tour of the International School ‘RubanVert’, which concluded with a theatrical performance by the students of the school, and the planting of a tree.

Founded by First Lady Sylvia Ondimba Bongo in 2013, the school provides innovative education approaches aligned with the drive of the Gabonese government to professionally train, and nurture, the next generations of leaders.

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