Targeted violence against female public officials, dismal healthcare and desperate poverty make Afghanistan the world's most dangerous country in which to be born a woman, according to a global survey released on Wednesday.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Pakistan, India and Somalia feature in descending order after Afghanistan in the list of the five worst states, the poll among gender experts shows.
The appearance of India, a country rapidly developing into an economic super-power, was unexpected. It is ranked as extremely hazardous because of the subcontinent's high level of female infanticide and sex trafficking.
Others were less surprised to be on the list. Informed about her country's inclusion, Somalia's women's minister, Maryan Qasim, responded: "I thought Somalia would be first on the list, not fifth."
The survey has been compiled by the Thomson Reuters Foundation to mark the launch of a website, TrustLaw Woman, aimed at providing free legal advice for women's groups around the world.
After hours spent carefully preparing her cakes, Abrar Abdu stood stunned in silence before her oven. In...
Tamir Pardo, the former chief of Israel’s powerful Mossad intelligence agency, drew international attention on Monday...
Israeli authorities are using access to water as a weapon against Palestinians, including by systematically depriving...
An Israeli human rights group is demanding the release of Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, director of...
