Most Dangerous Countries for Women to Visit

By Scoop Team On Apr 7, 2013

Oh Egypt you never cease to amaze and it looks like you just can’t catch a break!

In a recently published article by Business Insider, Egypt was voted one of the most dangerous countries in the world to visit by women!

Having lived in Egypt, we can understand where this is coming from considering the lack of Police in the streets, gang rapes, and constant sexual harassment.

Check out the 8 most dangerous countries for women to travel to:

1. India

India’s tourism industry generates $17.7 billion each year. But the recent gang rapes of a Swiss tourist and a New Delhi student, and a British tourist jumping from her window for fear of being raped have caused tourism to drop 35 percent since December.

2. Brazil

Rio de Janeiro is billed as the most popular tourist destination in the Southern Hemisphere, but women should be on alert after an American tourist was raped in a van while her French boyfriend was handcuffed. The three suspects were arrested, but Brazil is known for its a machismo culture and history of gender-based violence,

3. Turkey

Tourists in Turkey largely flock to historical sites in Istanbul or the country’s gorgeous seaside resorts. But violence against women is a major problem in Turkey. The State Department reports that the Embassy and Consulates have received numerous reports of crimes against women, particularly incidents involving “date rape” drugs.

The police and courts also have a bad track record with helping women who have applied for protection orders against their attackers, according to Human Rights Watch. And an American woman traveling alone in Istanbul was killed in February.

4. Egypt

Tourism in Egypt makes up 20 percent of the country’s foreign currency, but the number of tourists visiting Egypt’s ruins has been significantly dropping.

This is partly due to the rise in crime after the January 25, 2011 revolution, but also due to the systematic sexual harassment and assault of unaccompanied women and girls in the streets, according to The New York Times.

Last June mobs attacked and sexually assaulted at least six Egyptian and foreign women in Cairo’s Tahrir square, and a Cairo-based journalist recently recounted her harrowing story of being stripped and almost raped in a mob.

5. Colombia

Colombia’s tourism industry has been growing recently after many years of tourists avoiding the civil conflict-torn country.

But violence against women and girls remains widespread in Colombia (especially for displaced women), and authorities have a bad track record for enforcing the laws and protocols that are in place to protect women,

6. Guatemala

Guatemala is filled with picturesque cities like Antigua and Panachajel, and about 15 percent of its working population is involved in tourism of some kind.

But Guatemala’s legal system is hard-pressed to control all of the gang-related and drug-related crimes in the country. And that goes triple for crimes against women.

Rape and sexual assault increased by 34 percent from 2008 to 2011, yet only 1 in 10 of those cases ever brought the perpetrators to justice, according to Human Rights Watch

7. Mexico

Millions of Americans travel safely in Mexico to visit its resorts and major cities each year, and the Mexican government makes a considerable effort to protect U.S. citizens, the State Department says.

But back in February, six Spanish female tourists were raped in their Aculpulco beach house by six strange men. The Mexican criminal justice system often fails to protect victims of violent crimes, particularly women and girls, due to inadequate training and corruption, according to Human Rights Watch.

There are also provisions in the law that make sexual offenses contingent on the “chastity” of the victim, and women who report their sexual assault are regularly met with disrespect and suspicion by the authorities.

8. Kenya

Visiting Kenya has become extremely popular due to its wildlife and safari tours.

But women traveling in Kenya outside of the country’s traditional tourist areas should take safety precautions, particularly on the island of Lamu where The State Department has released a warning after US citizens were sexually assaulted and threatened with kidnapping.

And the United Nations Development Fund for Women recently released a report saying that “women of all ages, education levels and social groups, in rural and urban settings are subjected to violence in Kenya.

We Said This: Ailing tourism sector, this is the extra hit it needed!

Dangerous Countries to visit Women