The United States is the only Western country among the ten most dangerous countries in the world for women. This is revealed by a study by the Thompson Reuters Foundation published on Tuesday, which places India in the lead, followed by Afghanistan and Syria.
The survey involved 550 experts on women's issues who were asked which of the 193 member states of the United Nations they consider most vulnerable in this matter. And India is the worst unemployed country, in fact in just seven years has climbed four positions and has been placed as the most dangerous by sexual violence against women, forced domestic work, sexual slavery and forced marriage. The report highlights the high number of child rapes and gives as an example two cases: that of an 8-year-old girl and another 16-year-old girl who provoked massive demonstrations across the country to demand more protection for women.
Cultural traditions have also made India the most dangerous country for women. It highlights female genital mutilation, child marriage and physical abuse as daily examples that are deeply rooted in the country's society. To this must be added the attacks with acid that many women in India suffer, mostly for rejecting the suitors imposed by their families or as punishment for alleged disobedience or infidelity.
100 sexual assaults a day in India
According to data from the National Criminal Registry Office of India, the police receives about 100 complaints of sexual assault every day, to which must be added many others that are circumscribed within the family that never come to be reported. In 2016 alone, 39,000 violations were reported in the country, 12% more than the previous year. "India has shown total indifference and disrespect for women: rape, marital rape, sexual abuse, harassment ... and female infanticide has not diminished," denounces Manjunath Gangadhara, an Indian government official, to the Thomson Reuters Foundation .
In second place is Afghanistan. This country is the most dangerous in terms of access to medical care, access to economic resources for women and non-sexual violence, which includes violence related to conflicts and domestic abuse. Syria, where the war lasts more than seven years, is third on the list. This country is considered the second most dangerous in terms of sexual violence and access to medical care. And it is tied third with the United States in terms of sexual violence and harassment.
Why the United States?
Rounding out the 'top 10' are Somalia, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Yemen, Nigeria and the United States. But why? It is the only western country that appears on the list. Although it occupies the tenth position in the general plane, it is in third place along with Syria in relation to the risk that women run to be victims of sexual violence, harassment and sexual blackmail. Regarding non-sexual violence, such as domestic and psychological abuse, the United States is in sixth position.
Experts, defenders of the situation of women and victims point out that the growing awareness of the assault against women is linked to the #MeToo movement. They also consider that the US "tries to sell that we are a free and safe country but there are many people in our country who do not feel safe and the victims of sexual assault and gender violence are in that group."
The #Metoo sexual harassment movement went viral in October 2017 after Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein was accused of sexual misconduct by more than 70 women. Hundreds of women have now publicly accused businessmen, senior government officials and the entertainment industry of sexual misconduct. Thousands have joined the #Metoo movement to share their stories around the world.