ActionAid study: 54.7% of urban women are victims of violence in Bangladesh

More that 50% of women living in urban areas in Bangladesh are victims of violence, according to an ActionAid study on women's safety. The report evaluated women’s safety in urban areas in a broad selection of countries in which ActionAid operates: Bangladesh, Brazil, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Jordan, Liberia, Nepal, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa and Zimbabwe. According to the study, 54.7% of women living in urban areas in Bangladesh are victims of violence. 65% of women surveyed felt the police would blame them rather than the perpetrator. In addition, 57% of the women felt that the crime would not be taken seriously. Furthermore, 47% of women surveyed said they do not feel safe on the street or when using public transport, and 48% feel unsafe when trying to access some sort of public service. The report also stated that Dhaka, in a recent survey, was voted the 7th most dangerous city for women in the world. In the ActionAid survey, Bangladesh shares the sixth position with war-ravaged Congo. The countries above Bangladesh in the list of are Nepal, Nigeria, Jordan, Brazil and Zimbabwe.