Safety Issues for Canadians Abroad

Heightened awareness of security and safety issues following the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States has made Canadians more cautious when travelling anywhere.

The federal government has introduced several measures to ensure that Canadians make safe passage to their destinations and feel secure when they are abroad.

The Consular Affairs Bureau of the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Web site (www.voyage.gc.ca) features a comprehensive Before You Go section that includes frequently asked questions about foreign travel and a list of relevant publications posted online. Among them: Bon Voyage, But ... Information for the Canadian Traveller, which looks at such issues as vaccinations, health insurance, a Traveller's Checklist that itemizes things to do before leaving Canada, seeking assistance abroad, foreign laws and customs, and a list of other publications and useful contacts.

Another useful written resource is Her Own Way: Advice for the Woman Traveller. It includes information on lessening the effects of culture shock, steps to follow for extra security (carry items in a purse that "you can afford to lose or have stolen"), avoiding harassment ("avoid wearing provocative, form-fitting clothing") and being cautious when alone after sundown. A list of other related publications is also provided. See www.voyage.gc.ca/main/pubs_menu-en.asp

Foreign Affairs also maintains a 24-7 Emergency Operations Centre, with contacts listed at www.voyage.gc.ca, which also includes a Problems Abroad section. Among some of the potential problems examined are arrest, assault, disasters, hijackings, hostage takings and missing persons, and advice on what to do in each instance. As the bureau rightly explains, "Smart travellers learn about their destination before leaving Canada [and] understand the pitfalls that can await the unprepared."

The site also includes a registration service, available online, for Canadians who expect to be living in a foreign country or are already living in a foreign country for three months or more. Canadians spending less than three months visiting areas and countries with potential for problems, or a developing crisis, should also register. In addition, the site includes contact information for Canadian government offices abroad.

The Consular Affairs site also red-flags current issues that Canadians should be aware of before making a journey, whether they relate to natural disasters of civil unrest.

In addition, Foreign Affairs (http://www.voyage.gc.ca/dest/ctry/reportpage-en.asp) provides travel reports on specific countries, from Afghanistan to Zambia, where Canadians could encounter difficulties. Another good source of information on individual nations, from an American perspective, is the CIA's online World Factbook (www.odci.gov/cia/publications/factbook). The Round-The-World Travel Guide at www.travel-library.com/rtw/html has a detailed safety and scams section that provides many safety tips for travellers ("always assume you're being watched;" "don't get distracted, isolated or stopped"). It also lists scams commonly used on travellers ("beware of people who tell you about a problem with a car, or cause the problem") and features posts from others offering advice based on their own experiences.

In a similar vein, the online International Travel Planner includes a Safety & Traveling Solo section (www.worldwide.edu/planning_guide/Safety_Traveling_Solo) that has a "hit list" of frequently reported scams. Also included are tips for planning personal safety, with specific sections addressed to women or children travelling solo.

See also the Health and Safety information at Learner Safety and Adaptation, Sojourn Abroad.

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