UNSC Arria-Formula Meeting on

“Closing the Protection Gap for Widows in Conflict and Post-Conflict Settings”

[Monday, 15 November 2021; 1330 hrs]

INDIA STATEMENT

by

Ambassador R. Ravindra

Deputy Permanent Representative

We thank Niger along with other co-hosts for convening today’s meeting on this important issue. We also thank all briefers for their insightful presentations. 

Mr. Chair

On 31 October 2000, the UN Security Council adopted a pathbreaking decision in the form of Resolution 1325 which for the first-time linked gender equality and the maintenance of international peace and security.

The WPS Agenda has a transformative potential. It is now recognized internationally, but there are still challenges. 

Member States need to identify and address barriers to women’s full, equal and meaningful participation in the prevention and resolution of conflict, and in post-conflict peace-building efforts and activities.

It is indeed disconcerting that women continue to suffer disproportionately in situations of armed conflict. Widowhood further aggravates vulnerabilities for women in armed conflict. 

Given that the rate of widowhood in armed conflict situations can be greater than 50% of the female population, this meeting is a timely initiative to address and deliberate on this important issue. 

Mr. Chair

It is primary duty of every Member State to ensure empowerment and protection of women. 

We need to look at not only political empowerment of women, but also their socio-economic empowerment.

Member States must adopt a life-cycle continuum approach that creates an ecosystem which addresses inherent biases, protects and upholds the rights and dignity of women, instills confidence in them and equips them with necessary skill sets to effectively participate in the social, economic and political development of the country.

The Indian Constitution guarantees equal rights to women and men in terms of freedom and opportunity. Safety, security and dignity of women are of paramount importance for our government. 

The Government of India has formulated several schemes for welfare and development of women in distress including widows. As a part of the National Social Assistance programme, the Government, in 1995, launched a nation-wide Widow Pension Scheme which provides a monthly pension to widows living below the poverty line. One of India’s largest Home for Widows has been set up in Vrindavan in Uttar Pradesh with a capacity of 1000 members to provide widows a safe and secure place of stay, health services, nutritious food, legal and counselling services.

The Government of India also has a “Swadhar Grah” or a “Self-Reliant” scheme f which provides for food, clothing, counseling, training, clinical and legal aid aims to rehabilitate women in difficult circumstances. 

Various other welfare schemes make provisions to address vulnerabilities faced by widows. These include schemes which provide lump sum assistance to the bereaved household in the event of death of the bread-winner, provide food grains to eligible aged persons, create efficient and effective institutional platforms of the rural poor, provide affordable housing for women and support widows and other vulnerable groups to take up income generating activities.

Non-Governmental Organisations and Informal Groups have been playing an important role in India in providing a safety net for widows. We appreciate the role of these NGOs in protection and promoting the rights of widows.

Mr. Chair

We firmly believe that advancing democratic structures, promoting pluralism and adhering to rule of law in post-conflict situations are imperative to address the inequalities faced by women and to ensure their full and meaningful participation for peaceful and inclusive development.

Today, in India, more than 1.3 million elected women representatives lead in formulation and implementation of public policies at the grass-root level. We even have all-women Panchayats (local self-government) at grassroots leadership level.

Widows can be important agents for achieving transformational economic, environmental and social changes required for sustainable development. We need to empower them by imparting education, providing economic opportunities and advancing participation in public affairs.

Under our Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programmes, we have several projects to empower women, including widows. ‘Solar Mamas’ is one such project in which several thousand women in Africa and Asia have been trained to set up, maintain and manage solar lighting of their households and community buildings.

We encourage all Member States to uphold their commitments to ensure the rights of widows as enshrined in international law. 

We also hope that Member-States will cooperate to end violence and terrorism which cause women to suffer the ignominies of widows. 

In post-conflict situations, widows should be brought in to participate fully in peacebuilding and reconciliation processes to ensure that they contribute to sustainable peace and security.

To conclude, India is committed to work for meaningful participation of women in peace and security issues.

I thank you, Mr. Chair.