These are the world’s best and worst countries in terms of women facing violence
The International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Womenis still relevant and judging the global condition, will be relevant for a great period of time
Today (November 25) marks as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, another year where women around the world kept fighting for their rights, safety and survival.
Especially during the pandemic when doors closed and we went on isolation, reports of all forms of violence against women and girls, particularly domestic violence rise exponentially.
That is why, no matter how worried we are, artificial intelligence is going to replace human roles in the future; human civilisation is still very far from gaining advancement through justice and equity for themselves. That's why, this day is still relevant and judging the global condition, will be relevant for a great period of time.
Let's take a look at the top nations who have been identified as the worst and best places for women to live.
The lists have been made by The Business Standard comprising various global data from Women, Peace and Security Index in Oslo, poll by Thomson Reuters Foundation, World Economic Forum and US News & World Report's latest annual rankings.
The WORST countries
Syria
Since 2011, Syria has been engulfed in what has been referred to as "the worst humanitarian disaster of our time." Rape and torture in secret prisons, malnutrition, and gender-based violence is reportedly an everyday reality. Especially, sexual violence against women by the member of the terrorist group IS has been rampant. Not only local women, but also women coming from abroad fell prey by their ferocity.
"Gender-based violence continues to undermine the health, dignity, security and autonomy of its victims in Syria," said Panos Moumtzis, the Regional Humanitarian Coordinator (RHC) for the Syria Crisis.
Afghanistan
According to a Human Right's Watch report, only 37% of Afghan women are literate, a third of girls are married before they turn 18 (and sometimes forced out of education), the country's maternal mortality rate is high, and women's civil liberties are overall restricted.
India
Delhi, the capital of India is known as the rape capital of the world. The 2012 "Nirbhaya" incident unmasked massive issues that women still face in India behind the glorifying poster of women empowerment.
In the Reuters poll, India ranked #1 as the most dangerous on three issues – the risks women face from sexual violence and harassment, from cultural and traditional practices, and from human trafficking including forced labor, sex slavery and domestic servitude.
Yemen
Yemen is still reeling from the world's most urgent humanitarian crisis with 22 million people in need of vital assistance. According to the United Nations Population Fund, approximately 2.6 million women and girls in Yemen are at risk of gender-based violence, with 52,000 women at risk of sexual violence, including rape. According to World Report 2017, women in Yemen do not have equal rights to divorce, inheritance, or child custody as men in Yemen.
Pakistan
Violence against women and girls remains a serious concern as the risks women face from cultural, religious and traditional practices in Pakistan, with offenses like child marriage, rape, murder "honor killings," acid attacks, and domestic violence reportedly remaining prevalent.
Democratic Republic of Congo
In 2010, a UN representative referred to Congo as the "rape capital of the world," and another study alleged that 48 women are raped there every hour.
Maybe that's why, despite being so rich in natural resources, Congo remains as one of the world's least developed nations.
Besides these Saudi Arabia, The United States of America, Iraq, Nigeria, Somalia, Sudan get notable mention for taking the anchoring positions.
The BEST countries
Sweden
Sweden has the most progressive attitude towards gender equality (9.6) and human rights (9.8). According to an article published by The New York Times, women in Sweden now represent 46% of the parliament and 50% of the government's cabinet.
Denmark
This progressive Scandinavian country has one of the most women friendly policies and practicing systems on earth. They have an earnings-related daycare system and one of the most flexible parental leave policies in Europe. Denmark scored a 9.4 in human rights and a 9.1 in gender equality.
Canada
Canada is a very appealing nation for the immigrants and refugees all over the world. Rightly so, this North American country champions in diversity and ranked highly for human rights (9.8) and gender equality (9.1).
New Zealand
This is not a surprise that a country which is being run by a woman who happens to be one of the most progressive leaders of this generation will be on this list. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has become the synonym of gender equality and freedom of women in the island nation of Australian continent.
Netherlands
The Dutch have managed to narrow the gender gap across health, education, economy, and politics, providing benefits such as a maternity nurse to new mothers. The Netherlands scored a perfect 10 out of 10 in both gender equality and commitment to human rights, on the Oslo Women, Peace and Security index.
Countries like Ireland, Switzerland, Finland, Germany, Australia, Belgium deserve to have special mention in this category too.
