5 Most Dangerous Countries for Women: Afghanistan Tops List

In an exhaustive examination conducted by TrustLaw, a consortium of 213 gender experts spanning the globe, a rigorous assessment of countries' risks pertaining to women has been revealed. This encompassing study delves into six critical dimensions: health threats, sexual violence, non-sexual violence, cultural or religious influences, resource accessibility, and trafficking concerns.
The resultant ranking offers a sobering insight into the most perilous nations for women worldwide.
1. AFGHANISTAN: A Precarious Nexus of Challenges
The unenviable pinnacle of this disheartening index is occupied by Afghanistan, a nation beleaguered by an intricate tapestry of insurgency, systemic corruption, and abject poverty. This country's ignominious distinction extends to topping the charts in three pivotal risk categories: health vulnerabilities, non-sexual violence, and economic disparities.
Key Facts:
- Shockingly, the chance of maternal mortality for Afghan women stands at an alarming one in eleven.
- A staggering 87 percent of women within Afghanistan remain bereft of basic literacy.
- An overwhelming 70-80 percent of girls and women grapple with the harrowing specter of forced marriages.
2. DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO: Battling the Shadows of Conflict
Resonating with the echoes of a harrowing war from 1998 to 2003, coupled with an ensuing humanitarian catastrophe that claimed the lives of 5.4 million, the Democratic Republic of Congo secures the second spot, primarily due to its shockingly elevated levels of sexual violence.
Key Facts:
- A staggering average of 1,150 women face the horror of rape daily, constituting an appalling annual tally of approximately 420,000, as per a recent study in the American Journal of Public Health.
- The relentless scourge of sexual violence is further underscored by the Congolese Women's Campaign Against Sexual Violence, which cites 40 cases of rape each day.
- A staggering 57 percent of pregnant women battle the affliction of anemia.
3. PAKISTAN: A Labyrinth of Cultural Strictures
Claiming the third place, Pakistan's perilous landscape is marred by cultural, tribal, and religious practices that systematically oppress women, epitomized by acid attacks, coerced child marriages, and brutal punishment through stoning and physical abuse.
Key Facts:
- Pakistan bears witness to a grievous toll of over 1,000 women and girls falling victim to "honour killings" annually, as documented by the country's Human Rights Commission.
- An alarming 90 percent of women in Pakistan are subjected to the specter of domestic violence.
4. INDIA: Striving Amidst Shadows
Holding the mantle of the world's largest democracy, India, tragically claims the fourth position due to a trifecta of grave issues: rampant female foeticide, pervasive child marriages, and a disconcerting prevalence of trafficking and domestic servitude.
Key Facts:
- A stark revelation emerges as approximately 100 million individuals, a substantial portion being women and girls, are ensnared in various facets of human trafficking, according to Madhukar Gupta, the former Indian Home Secretary.
- A somber chapter of history is revealed, with up to 50 million girls vanishing over the past century as a direct consequence of female infanticide and foeticide.
- A distressing 44.5 percent of girls are confined to early marriages, before reaching the age of 18.
5. SOMALIA: The Struggle Amidst Strife
The fifth position on this disheartening list is claimed by Somalia, a land marred by profound poverty, rampant violence, and a conspicuous absence of legal order. Its precarious standing is attributed to a confluence of grave challenges, spanning from maternal mortality and rape to the agonizing specter of female genital mutilation and child marriages.
Key Facts:
- A staggering 95 percent of Somali women confront the scourge of female genital mutilation, typically inflicted between the tender ages of 4 and 11.
- The deprivation of proper healthcare facilities is painfully evident, with a mere 9 percent of women availing themselves of a health facility for childbirth.
- Gender representation remains deeply skewed, with a paltry 7.5 percent of parliamentary seats held by women.
The path towards equity, safety, and respect remains an arduous one, necessitating collective effort and unwavering resolve.
- Sources: AlertNet, U.N. agencies, IRIN News, American Journal of Public Health, World Bank, Gender Index, Human Rights Watch, International Centre for Research on Women.