Delhi is a worst mega city for women, says a Reuters poll

On Monday Thomson Reuters Foundation has released a survey in which found Delhi to be worst megacity in the world. The reason cited was the sexual violence women faces in the Indian Capital. The poll, conducted in 19 megacities and Delhi together shares the tag with Sau Paulo of Brazil.

Delhi has a heinous record of crime against women. The fatal gang rape of 23-year-old women in a public bus caught a lot of media attention in the entire world. The mega metro city of India reportedly mentioned as the ‘rape city’ by international media.

“I’m not surprised by the results as they’re based on perceptions,” said Rebecca Reichmann Tavares, head of the U.N. Women in India who also worked in Brazil, told the Reuters.

“India and Brazil have seen a lot of media attention on sexual violence in recent years. Sexual violence in both these cities is, of course, a reality, but there isn’t any definitive data to suggest that rates are higher in Delhi and Sao Paulo than any other city,” she added.

The report also includes the daily coverage by Indian media on the various crimes committed against women in Delhi. Rapes committed in schools, public places or at home were also studied and mentioned along with the daily coverage on harassment, trafficking and sold to the brothel red light district of the city.

The survey with the various questions on sexual violence asked 380 experts in cities with populations of more than 10 million to assess the risk of sexual violence and harmful cultural practices to women, as well as rank women’s access to health care and economic opportunities.

In the report, it was also mentioned that there were 2,155 rapes recorded in Delhi in 2016 – a rise of 67 percent from 2012, according to police data.

The other cities of the world like Egyptian capital Cairo was rated the most dangerous city for women overall and rated third worst for sexual violence, followed by Mexico City and Dhaka.

Tokyo was eventually ranked as the safest city for women in terms of sexual violence.