Is it ok to travel to countries with dubious human rights records? In an increasingly unstable world, travelers often find themselves asking this question. It always comes up when I mention traveling to Turkey or Saudi Arabia. Between the ethnic cleansing and murder of a journalist, these two countries have a smatter of blood on their hands.
They’re certainly not the only ones. I know people who refuse to travel to China over its censorship policies and others who won’t step foot in Russia because of anti-LGBTQ laws. But if we were to start applying morality tests, the entire world would be off-limits.
The morality of visiting countries with dubious human rights records
A few years ago I wrote about how I would never travel to Dubai again after learning about their abuse of migrant workers. Since then, I have traveled to Dubai again. I still think all people should be treated with dignity and respect. What’s changed is my view of how a positive impact is made.
I don’t believe in an isolationist policy when it comes to dealing with morally dubious countries. In fact, I firmly believe cutting off communication between countries or people is detrimental. It allows extremism to flourish and validates the “us vs. them” narrative that is so often perpetuated by leaders of these countries.
By traveling and engaging with ordinary people, you can influence their perspective. You can debunk any misconceptions they might have about people from your corner of the world. Through greater understanding and exchange of ideas, people may feel empowered to change these societies.
Maybe that sounds too idealistic and naive. I’m not saying we can change the world by holding hands and singing around a campfire. There are more impactful avenues of charge. By avoiding certain countries because of the policies or actions of its leaders, we’re doing ourselves (and ordinary people like us) a huge disservice.
Making impactful change
Ultimately, the world’s political problems are solved by those in power. If most of the world didn’t care so much about cheap labor, maybe they would advocate for an end to China’s internment of 1 million Uighurs.
Maybe if our government wasn’t so enamored with weapon’s contracts and oil, King Joffrey wouldn’t feel empowered to hunt down dissenters and murder them in cold blood. Maybe their society as a whole would be more Canada than Gilead if they didn’t have the political and economic backing of powerful world leaders.
There is no moral high ground in abstaining from travel to one country when literally every government in the world has corruption and a growing body count. If we started choosing where we lived or traveled to based on a moral compass, we’d all be lost at sea. Literally, because that would be the only place free of moral quandary (unless you factor in sea life poaching).
I’m not saying we should throw our hands up and not care. But there are more impactful avenues of protest than using your points to sail to less offensive shores. Let your political leaders know where you stand. That you’re not ok with human rights violations and criminal acts going unpunished. And while they may only represent us, we have a kinship with people around the world and what happens to them matters to us.
Final thoughts
This is my long-winded way of saying I won’t avoid traveling to places just because the leaders are corrupt and don’t share my value system. By not traveling to those places, we deprive ourselves and ordinary people in those countries just trying to get by. Many of them probably don’t approve of the oppressive practices of their governments either.
Political and (more substantial) economic pressure can lead to change. The people we vote into office can lobby for it. Whether it’s decisions about who to sell weapons to or whose character they choose to defend publicly, elected officials can make a more substantial difference at our insistence.
I want to hear your thoughts: Do you think it’s unethical to visit countries with serious human rights violations? Why or why not?
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