A recent global survey by the Thomson Reuters Foundation ranked the worst countries in which to be a woman. Afghanistan topped the list, followed by the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Pakistan, India and Somalia. The real surprise, though, was India -- "a country rapidly developing into an economic super-power" -- which rated high on the level of female infanticide and sex trafficking.
Findings were based on responses from over 200 professionals and specialists in gender issues. Each country was ranked in terms of six risk factors: health, discrimination and lack of access to resources, cultural and religious practices, sexual violence, human trafficking and conflict-related violence.
The survey was launched in conjunction with the Thomson Reuters Foundation's website, TrustLaw Woman, which links up local NGOs and social entrepreneurs with established law firms willing to offer women pro-bono legal advice.
Afghanistan was scored the worst place for its health, economic/discrimination and non-sexual violence. "Continuing conflict, NATO airstrikes and cultural practices combine to make Afghanistan a very dangerous place for women," said Antonella Notari, head of Women Change Makers, a group that supports women social entrepreneurs around the world.
The Congo is cited as the country where rape and sexual violence is most pervasive. A recent US study claimed that more than 400,000 women are raped there each year. The UN referred to the Congo as "the rape capital of the world".
Pakistan made the list for its tribal and cultural rituals including "acid attacks, child and forced marriage and punishment or retribution by stoning or other physical abuse." According to Pakistan's human rights commission, around 1,000 women and girls die every year because of honour killings.
India is said to have some 3 million prostitutes, 40% of which are children. "Up to 50 million girls are thought to be 'missing' over the past century due to female infanticide and foeticide," said the UN population fund.
Somalia has high levels of maternal mortality, rape, female genital mutilation. Apparently the most dangerous thing a Somali woman can do is fall pregnant. Her life expectancy is immediately halved, because there is no healthcare. Add to that, rape, female genital mutilation, ongoing famine, drought, and conflict, and it's not hard to see why Somalia made the top five.
Monique Villa, chief executive of the Thomson Reuters Foundation, claimed lack of education and healthcare are as dangerous to women as violent crimes. "In Afghanistan, for instance, women have a one in 11 chance of dying in childbirth. In the top five countries, basic human rights are systematically denied to women."
The silver lining: More than 450 law firms are already involved in TrustLaw Woman, helping women everywhere in the long, uphill battle to equality.
Image Credit: http://www.trust.org
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