These are the best and worst megacities for women to live in -

Article originally posted at: http://www.cosmopolitan.com/uk/reports/a13042245/best-and-worst-megacities-for-women/

When it comes to the best place to be a woman, it turns out London isn’t so bad.

The UK capital has been deemed the best megacity for women, according to the results of a survey carried out by the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

The poll questioned 380 experts in the world’s 19 biggest megacities, each home to over 10 million people, to determine how well women are protected from sexual violence and harmful cultural practices, and whether they have access to good healthcare, education and economic opportunities.

Out of the four key questions asked, London came top in two. These were on access to healthcare including control over reproductive health and access to economic resources such as education, land, and financial services such as bank accounts. However, the city didn’t fare the best when it came to the question on protection from sexual violence, which asked if women can live in the city without facing the risk of rape or sexual attacks and harassment.

“The progress we’re making as a city is not happening fast enough,” Mayor of London Sadiq Khan told the Foundation. “We must redouble our efforts to remove any barriers to women’s success and to unlock their full potential.”

London was followed by Tokyo and Paris, with Moscow ranked the fourth safest overall.

At the other end of the scale, Cairo was named the most dangerous megacity for women. According to campaigners, discrimination is rife with traditions dating back centuries making it a tough place for women to live.

Egypt’s capital fared worst when it came to harmful cultural practices, such as female genital mutilation and forced marriage, and was named the third worst city when those surveyed were asked if women were at risk of sexual harassment and violence.

However, alongside the Brazilian city of Sao Paulo, New Delhi was reported to be the worst place for sexual violence. The findings come five years after the horrifying gang rape of a 23-year-old female student on a bus in the Indian capital. The attack has led to stricter punishments for gender crimes and fast-track courts for rape cases, but women’s security in the region, which is home to an estimated 26.5 million people, remains a serious issue.

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