In December 2010, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution designating June 23 as International Widows' Day, first observed in 2011. The resolution followed years of advocacy by the Loomba Foundation, which worked to draw global attention to the situation of widows. In many societies, widows face compounded challenges, including loss of economic support, denial of inheritance or property rights, social discrimination, and sometimes forced isolation due to harsh customs. Many also bear sole responsibility for raising their children without adequate support from the state or community. The day aims to highlight the hardships widows endure, call for policies that secure their rights to inheritance, employment, and social protection, and challenge the negative social stigma they may face in some cultures.