India most dangerous country for women, US in top 10

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The most dangerous country in the world for women is India, a new poll of experts released this week showed, with the United States also making it into the top 10 for the first time.

The Thomson Reuters Foundation surveyed 548 experts on women's issues, asking them which countries they thought were most dangerous for women. The fields used as yardsticks were healthcare, discrimination, cultural traditions, sexual violence, non-sexual violence and human trafficking.

The United States was ranked third most dangerous country in terms of sexual violence and sixth in terms of non-sexual violence including domestic, physical and mental abuse. Overall it ranked 10th most dangerous country for women.

The survey was taken after the #MeToo campaign against sexual harassment went viral in the United States in October, after Hollywood movie mogul Harvey Weinstein was accused of sexual misconduct by more than 70 women.

Hundreds of women have since publicly accused powerful men in business, government and entertainment of sexual misconduct and thousands have joined the #MeToo movement to share stories of sexual harassment or abuse.

The United States is the only Western nation appearing in the top 10. India tops the ranking with Afghanistan, Syria, Somalia, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Yemen and Nigeria, completing the list.

India fared worst in terms of cultural traditions, sexual violence and human trafficking.

(Top picture: Indian theater artists hold placards during a protest against the recent abduction and gang-rape of five charity workers in Chochang village, Amritsar on June 24, 2018. /VCG Photo)

Source(s): Xinhua News Agency