Earlier this month, the news of a 28-year-old Spanish woman who was sexually harassed by seven men in Jharkhand's Dumka district sent shockwaves across the country and once again, put the spotlight on women safety in the country.
Now, in a startling revelation, the woman has said that she does not regret her India visit and what happened with her could have occurred anywhere else.
"I think everyone in the world expects me to say 'Don't go to India', but life is far more complicated than that. What happened to me in India could have happened anywhere else. Not so long ago, a couple travelling in Belize, in Central America, the same thing happened to them," the woman told South China Morning Post.
"I understand how some people might reach that conclusion. You know, society convinces us to live one way, to go to work, to have two children, to stay in our circle. So when a person exits their circle, they are considered risk-takers."
"Yes, I left the house, and yes, I took risks, but I don't regret it. I don't regret going to India. I don't regret anything about our journey," the woman added.
The woman also adviced others to not fear leaving the house and suggested them to camp at a place from where they could call out for help, easily.
"My advice to women is to get out of the house, travel and do so without fear. If you are going to camp, it should be in a place not too far from the road where you can easily call for help and have a signal for your phone," she said.
The woman said that she and her partner were currently on a break, but had plans to resume their bike trips soon.
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