Checkout This 10 Countries Around The World Where Women Don’t Feel Safe

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Checkout This 10 Countries Around The World Where Women Don’t Feel Safe

While there will always be good and bad points about every country on the planet, it’s always important to have a good understanding of the potential risks that each one can hold. Though white women definitely have it easier when traveling to the majority of places in the world,

Here are ten countries they should be more cautious about visiting.

Of course, that’s not to say these places should be avoided altogether, but if you are thinking of planning a trip to any of them, it’s probably best to keep your wits about you and be a savvy traveler to avoid any potentially nasty incidents.

Saudi Arabia

This one probably isn’t so surprising given their history with women’s rights in general – the country has only just given women the opportunity to obtain drivers’ licenses. Women traveling here will need a male sponsor or guardian for their trip, and in many areas will be put under pressure to wear a full-length black covering, as well as covering their heads.

There are also groups of religious police (aka the Mutawwa) who keep watch for anyone seen to be doing anything offensive; this could be public displays of affection, not adhering to the dress code, or if a woman was traveling with a man who isn’t her husband – the latter is actually an arrestable offence.

The US Department of State has issued a warning on their travel site urging people to carefully consider the risks of traveling to the country, and also notes that there “continue to be reports of threats against U.S. citizens and other Westerners, as well as locations frequented by them.”

Honduras

There’s no doubt about it; Honduras has one of the highest murder rates in the world. The sight of plenty of armed police patrolling the streets is pretty common, and not exactly an image you’d want to send back to your friends and family while you’re on holiday. While the majority of deaths here are gang-related, there are still frequent muggings, and attacks on foreigners, including armed robbery, also occur.

Women travelers often feel apprehensive coming here; as Lonely Planet states: “Honduras is still a male-dominated society. Personal safety is the biggest concern for female travelers.” Unfortunately, assaults are not uncommon, and women are likely to be more at risk from thieves. Muggings can take place at any time of day. The UK government’s travel site even suggests carrying a small amount of money with you at all times in case you are targeted in a robbery.

Japan

This one may be surprising given that many people probably see Japan as one of the safest countries in the world, but unfortunately the country has a big problem with s*xual assault. Groping in crowded areas and on trains is common – in fact, it’s become so endemic that female-only carriages were introduced.

Foreign women are often still seen as exotic, and as a result there are many accounts of groping, verbal abuse and stalking. Because assault still carries something of a stigma here, it’s not reported often; the Justice Ministry state that only 18% of victims report the attacks to the police.

Though plenty of women travel to Japan solo every year, it’s best to take cues from the local women; be vigilant and travel in female-only train carriages whenever possible.

Jamaica

Jamaica is the ultimate holiday destination for many women; the hot weather and sandy beaches make it the perfect place to kick back and indulge in some r&r. While there’s no worry about dressing particularly modest here, unfortunately assaults are something that visitors should be wary of.

Even staying in a resort doesn’t mean you shouldn’t exercise caution; in fact, according to the State Department, these types of places are usually where most assaults take place: “the U.S. Embassy received more than a dozen reports of s*xual assaults against American visitors to Jamaica in a 12-month period. Most of these took place at all-inclusive resorts; most were allegedly perpetrated by resort staff.”

India

This one probably won’t come as a huge shock to many people; India’s s*xual assault problem has unfortunately been an ongoing problem for too long. There are constant reports of female travelers having been catcalled, groped, and assaulted, even during the day and when they were with someone else.

These kinds of attacks can take place anywhere, but are particularly frequent in crowded areas like markets and streets. Like some of the other countries on this list, the danger became so severe on trains that female-only carriages have been introduced.

The US government actually cautions women from traveling alone to India, and even the Indian Tourism Minister has suggested that women should not wear skirts in an attempt to reduce the risk of becoming a victim.

Brazil

The country still has one of the highest murder rates in the world, according to the UNODC, and there are also a large number of r*pe cases in tourist areas thanks to the minimal assistance from the police. Armed robbery, kidnap and ‘quicknapping’ are also common; the latter is where a tourist is kidnapped and taken to an ATM to withdraw cash, then released.

Earlier this year a 67-year-old Spanish tourist was shot dead by police after being mistaken for a criminal; the officers in Rio de Janeiro later said they shot at her because the car she was in didn’t stop at their roadblock. She was traveling with two relatives and an Italian guide.

Egypt

Unfortunately, Egypt is another country with a s*xual harassment and assault problem. In recent years, the rates have actually increased significantly for both locals and tourists, and this isn’t helped by the fact there’s now less police on the streets. Female travelers often report being groped while out and about, particularly in more crowded places like markets.

Simply making eye contact with someone can be taken as a sign of flirting here, so some women opt to wear sunglasses the whole time they’re out in public. Dressing conservatively is pretty essential too, otherwise women risk gaining unwanted attention; this can be pretty full on – many guides recommend that even your wrists and ankles should be covered, as well as your hair.

As well as the problems above, there’s also the risk of terrorism and kidnapping, as the UK travel advisory states on their website. All things considered it’s not exactly an ideal spot for a solo female traveler to wind up.

Thailand

While the majority of Thailand is pretty safe for female travelers in comparison to the other countries on this list, there is one island in particular that is probably best to avoid. Tiny Koh Tao has been nicknamed ‘Death Island’ thanks to a string of brutal tourist deaths over recent years.

There have now been a number of mysterious deaths and strange disappearances there, and rumours persist that the island is run by a dangerous mafia.

Kenya

Kenya can be unsafe for women in particular due to the large number of assaults committed there. These kinds of attacks are unfortunately common, and often go unreported due to the stigma involved. To make the matter even worse, victims of assault often find they do not receive adequate medical or emotional support following the incident.

Armed robbery and kidnapping is also prevalent, and terrorist activity can put women especially at risk. However, with an increasing number of ranch invasions by armed nomadic farmers in areas visited by tourists, even going on safari can prove risky.

Morocco

Traveling to Morocco means accepting that you are at risk of crimes such as pick-pocketing, purse-snatching, street robberies, and burglaries, and there is also the threat of terrorist violence targeted at foreigners, particularly those from the US, according to the State Department.

Along with all of this, being a woman traveling alone can also pose some potentially uncomfortable and even dangerous situations. Many young men make a living by scamming foreigners who lose their way in the busy streets, and lone women are the easiest target for them.

Venezuela

You have to be pretty daring to visit Venezuela. With nearly 80 murders committed every single day, there’s no doubt that it is currently one of the most violent places on the planet. According to the non-governmental organization Venezuelan Violence Observatory (VVO), there was a total of 28,479 homicides in Venezuela during 2016, and other violent crimes are common throughout the country.

Women in particular need to be on their guard here; human trafficking is a problem for both the natives and tourists, and harassment and assault are also a serious issue here. The fact that many of these attacks are not just carried out at night, but also during the day by people like hotel workers and taxi drivers makes it even more difficult for female travelers to ensure their own safety.