India fourth most dangerous country for women: Poll

India is the fourth most dangerous country for women, as per a gender poll that gauged perceptions of threats ranging from domestic abuse and economic discrimination to foeticide and other crimes against women. The survey was conducted by the UK-based Thompson Reuters Foundation.

Ranked fourth after Afghanistan, Congo and Pakistan, India's reasons for being dangerous for women essentially emerge from a skewed sex ratio. Somalia is fifth on the list. Basic human rights are systematically denied to women in these countries, Monique Villa, chief executive of Thomson Reuters Foundation, said.

The poll that was carried out by Trustlaw, a legal news service run by Thomson Reuters Foundation, asked 213 experts, including professionals, academics, health workers, policymakers, journalists and development specialists, from five continents to rank countries based on their overall perception of danger. The poll covered not just "hidden dangers" such as lack of education opportunities and healthcare but also rape and murder.

Female foeticide, infanticide and human trafficking are the main reasons why India figures on the list. The survey says nearly 12 million girls were aborted in the last three decades. In 2009, the CBI estimated that 90 per cent of trafficking took place within India and there were around 3 million prostitutes, 40 per cent of them minors.

Afghanistan is most dangerous country for women
Violence, dismal healthcare and brutal poverty make Afghanistan the world's most dangerous country for women, with Congo a close second due to horrific levels of rape, a Thomson Reuters Foundation expert poll said on Wednesday.

* Afghanistan tops expert poll of dangers to women * Congo plagued by rape as weapon of war

* Pakistan blighted by acid attacks and 'honour killings'

* India cited for trafficking and sexual slavery

* Somalia seen as having full gamut of risks

Pakistan, India and Somalia ranked third, fourth and fifth, respectively, in the global survey of perceptions of threats ranging from domestic abuse and economic discrimination to female foeticide, genital mutilation and acid attacks.

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