While the legal code may prohibit sexual violence, in practice enforcement can vary widely. This spreadsheet reflects only written law, not how those laws are interpreted or applied on the ground.

Before traveling, discuss with colleagues familiar with the region about:

• Cultural attitudes toward gender and sexuality
• Local views of bribery and corruption
• Police responsiveness and statistics on sexual violence

Just because a country or city is known for misrepresenting or underreporting sexual violence does not mean your experience is not worth reporting. Reporting incidents to your home institution, embassy, local police, and funding agencies can create pressure on local authorities to respond appropriately.

If you are working in a remote place without access to local authorities or a nearby embassy, visit our Remote Research Areas page.

Even in states where one-party consent is the general rule, the law often includes a key limitation: if the conversation takes place in a setting where there is a “reasonable expectation of privacy”, all-party consent may be required.

This expectation of privacy can apply even in publicly funded or accessible spaces—such as a professor’s office, a museum curator’s lab, or a research space—if the circumstances suggest the conversation is intended to be private (e.g., closed doors, no other people present).

In these situations, you may be able to reduce or eliminate the privacy expectation by changing the context:

• Keep the door open: Clearly state at the outset that the door should stay open to indicate the discussion isn’t private.
• Move to a public space: Some language you can use:
  • “I need to stretch my legs, can we walk and talk?”
  • “Let’s meet over coffee—there’s a local shop nearby.”
  • “I don’t attend 1‑on‑1 meetings in private spaces while conducting fieldwork for my safety. I’m really looking forward to discussing [topic]—can we take this conversation to [public space]?”

Each country's laws are complex. Seek legal counsel to confirm current law and build a safety plan that fits your situation.