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They raided my inheritance even before my husband died

[DRC] "When one was finished the next would start." Georgina Cranston/IRIN
Une victime de viol. La violence sexuelle était utilisée comme une arme de terreur
    AIN AL-HILWEH

    Wubit Debele*, 37, was diagnosed HIV-positive two years ago, and lost her husband to AIDS-related complications in January. Although Ethiopia has laws that protect the property rights of widows, in reality, disinheritance is a common problem.

    "When my husband was critically ill, my in-laws came up with a seemingly good idea. In order to spare my husband and I rent expenses, they offered to move us into their house until my husband recovered and resumed working.

    It seemed like sound advice to me, and my in-laws sent trucks to transport all our household furniture and everything else to their home. 

    A few days after we moved to their house they took my husband out of the city for fear that news would travel about his sickness and damage their reputation in the community. Even though I told them that life in the city offers better access to medical care, my advice fell on deaf ears.

    Why women's rights continue to be violated
    Discriminatory laws and customary practices
    Ineffective enforcement of laws
    Women's lack of rights awareness
    Social stigma
    Source: Human Rights Watch
    My husband passed away shortly after he was taken away from me, but it was after the funeral service that I found out the scheme that cheated me out of my rights [and house].

    They later told me that I could no longer stay in their house. I am only left with an old mattress and have no shelter. Whenever I feel strong enough to work I wash clothes to earn a living."

    *Not her real name

    rm/kr/he

    This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions

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