The
two most vulnerable groups of females in China are baby girls
forcefully aborted or abandoned, and elderly widows. Widows are
exponentially increasing all over the world, but the rising number of
poor, destitute widows has been quite invisible, especially in China.
Many are in small, remote Chinese villages and without social
protection, social provision for survival with dignity. In a society
that continues to favor males, baby girls and elderly widows are often
considered a liability in China. Widows may have large medical bills for
their deceased husbands and for themselves. Their family may be far
away and often disinterested in caring for an ageing family widow. Baby
girls, if they are lucky enough to survive, may be abandoned, as their
mothers are pressured to “give them away” in favor of having a boy.
Baby girls and widowed older women are, indeed, a tragic hidden crisis
in China. This panel will discuss, show examples, and consider viable
solutions, for Chinese baby girls and for elderly widows, with a
particular focus on social protection, greater gender equality, human
rights, and social justice.
Distinguished Speakers:
· Ms. Reggie Littlejohn - Attorney, Founder Women’s Rights Without Frontiers
· Video on Abandoned Baby Girls & Forced Female Abortions in China
· Ms. Dubravka Simonovic – UN Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women - Invited
· Ms. Margaret Owen – UK Barrister, Founder & CEO Widows for Peace Through Democracy
· China Elderly Widows Video
· Ms. Jing Zhang – Founder & Director, Women’s Rights in China
Moderator: Ms. Lois A. Herman – Coordinator WUNRN-Women’s UN Report Network
