Traveling 101: Understanding International Laws
When you are planning a leisure trip to another country, it is a good idea to get familiar with the laws there. They may be much different than what you are used to, so you need to make sure you are prepared. Not familiarizing yourself with their laws can land you in serious hot water. This article will give you the top reasons why you need to learn their laws.
Every country has unique laws. This is a severe understatement considering many things you do on a regular basis can be the reason for someone spending some time behind bars in your destination country. An example of a difference in international law is the fact that accessing the Internet is an offense that can send you straight to prison in Burma. While this may seem ridiculous, the reality is that this is a very real law and you have to follow it if you plan on traveling to that country.
While going to jail is something that no one wants to experience, there are many things that can get you a death sentence overseas. In many countries, things that are found morally unacceptable are considered illegal. Do not get the idea that it would be nice to go on vacation with your husband and sneak off and fool around with someone else. Adultery is something that is punishable by death in several countries.
Getting arrested while in another country is particularly difficult because many times your home country cannot help you in any way. There are many people who spend years in foreign prisons for doing minor things and the government of their country has no say in what happens. Before you leave for your trip, record the contact information for the embassy. If you are arrested, you can contact them, but the truth is that they may not be able to help you either.
You are probably wondering where you would find information on the laws of other countries. The Internet is your best resource if you know exactly where to look. There is a free site called GlobaLex that has information on the laws of over 100 countries. That is a good place to start. You can also access a site called Foreign Law Guide. This site provides information for more countries than GlobaLex, but you will have to get a subscription to gain access.
As stated earlier, the best thing to do if you are arrested is to try getting in touch with the embassy. Getting help from them may be your only reprieve. Another thing you should think about is getting in touch with one of your loved ones and having them get in touch with a lawyer that specializes in international law.
Traveling is fun, but it can become a bad experience if you are ill-prepared. You need to make sure to brush up on the laws of the country you are visiting. Ignorance of the law will not get you out of trouble, which means you need to do your best to learn the laws and then follow them.