Abstract
This chapter discusses a unique method of intervention on behalf of widows who undergo harmful traditional practices and human rights violations in Enugu State in Nigeria. The chapter begins with a brief discussion of Nigeria and the history of its conflicts. The situation of widows globally and in South East Nigeria in particular is then discussed. The Vanguard intervention used by Widows Development Organization (WiDO) is explained and a summary of a mediation is provided. Finally, the challenges associated with mediation on behalf of widows are identified. The chapter concludes with recommendations for a holistic approach to successful conflict intervention.
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- 1.
Nigerians frequently refer to the country’s six regions: North East, North West, North Central, South West, South South and South East (ActionAid Nigeria 2009, p. ii). The South East region includes Enugu State.
- 2.
Horowitz (1993, p. 37) has described this as “irrepressible pluralism.”
- 3.
No percentages for the ethnic groups are provided here. The percentages frequently presented are not consistent and have been controversial.
- 4.
According to Diamond (2001, p. xii), “over the past four decades, no country in the world has had a more turbulent and tragic democratic experience than Nigeria.”
- 5.
According to Amnesty International (2006), rape is an “endemic” problem in Nigeria requiring immediate action and the government’s response “has been, and continues to be, woefully inadequate.”
- 6.
The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) is the body of independent experts that monitors the implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women.
- 7.
In should be noted, however, the court held, in this case, that a widow who has “no male issue by the deceased husband… has the right to reside in the matrimonial home… in the absence of the widow’s misbehaviour or misconduct” (Uzodike 1990, p. 402). The widow is not entitled to any absolute ownership rights.
- 8.
Umuada refers to Women of the Igbo tribe. In this context, umuada includes the daughters, sisters, aunts and female cousins of the deceased, but does not include females who have married into the family of the deceased as they may perpetuate harmful widowhood practices.
- 9.
The Enugu State 2001 bill number 3 is about “The Prohibition of Infringement of Widows and Widowers Fundamental Rights.”
- 10.
The United Nations General Assembly recognized 23 June as International Widows’ Day. The declaration calls on “Member States, the United Nations system and other international and regional organizations, within their respective mandates, to give special attention to the situation of widows and children” (http://www.un.org/en/events/widowsday). WiDO put out press releases as well as provided a news commentary on national radio to commemorate the first International Widows’ Day in 2011.
- 11.
This bill eventually was passed with the support of the Nigerian Association for Women Journalists (NAWOJ).
- 12.
However, very little has been written on the topic of mediation and widows (Edemikpong 2005).
- 13.
The Vanguard intervention described here is an expensive approach that needs regular and substantial funding. (Much of the expenditure is for transporting team members to remote areas.) WiDO lost its funding for the full approach in 2008 and has been forced to be innovative to make sure that mediation is still offered. Current interventions take place with at least two WiDO members in the company of a focal person (someone already in the community who has been trained in mediation by WiDO). For cases where a lawyer is needed, we approach lawyers who provide pro bono services. We also might ask for assistance from other NGOs that have more resources or already are working in a particular community.
- 14.
Some areas of the country are very remote and lack mobile phone services. Setting up meetings in such communities takes longer as it involves a lot of traveling.
- 15.
The names of the family members have been changed in order to respect the family’s privacy.
- 16.
Geraldine and her children lived in Onitsha, about 1½ hours away from the WiDO office where the mediation was held and the property in question was located.
- 17.
“Till Death Do Us Part,” produced by Communicating for Change in 1998, is a 30-minute documentary film that profiles the lives of three widows in eastern Nigeria. The film was produced for the 50th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and has been shown (with panel discussions) in a number of Nigerian communities.
- 18.
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Nwadinobi, E.A. (2014). Conflict Intervention on Behalf of Widows: Notes from Enugu State in Nigeria. In: Fritz, J. (eds) Moving Toward a Just Peace. Clinical Sociology: Research and Practice. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-2885-1_10
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