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Tips for women travellers

Students, active working women, adventurous grandmothers -Australian women are travelling overseas in ever-increasing numbers.

While we recognise that all travellers may face some level of risk in unfamiliar environments or cultures, for various reasons women may sometimes be placed at greater risk.

Be prepared

The better prepared you are, the more enjoyable and safe your travelling will be.

• Try to acquaint yourself with the culture and customs of the countries you are visiting. Respecting local customs will help you avoid potentially dangerous situations.
• Call home regularly.
• Take a photocopy of your itinerary, passport, credit cards, traveinsurance documents and important phone numbers and keep them separate from the originals, in case of loss or theft.
• Register with the nearest Australian embassy, high commission or consulate. The registration information provided by you will also help us to find you in an emergency whether it is a natural disaster, civil disturbance or a family emergency. You can do this on-line through Australian embassies, high commissions or consulates overseas.
• Take a copy of the Department's brochure If you are the victim of sexual assault while travelling overseas.

Travelling alone

You face greater risks when you're travelling alone. If you decide to do so, you should take extra precautions. In some societies, men may take advantage of you if you have no obvious protector. This could take the form of hissing, pinching, passing comments, obscene gestures and so on.

• Retain your composure and do not react, but remove yourself from the situation as quickly as possible, or go to the nearest police officer.

You could unwittingly find yourself in danger simply by accepting an invitation to go out with a man alone.

• In societies where this is not an accepted practice, just saying 'yes' to an invitation may give the wrong signal and expose you to the risk of sexual assault.

Dress sense

In some countries or cultures dress standards are stricter than Australia's, and may be stricter for women than they are for men. The way you present yourself may affect the way the people you meet on your travels react to you. To help avoid unwelcome attention you should take care to be sensitive to local dress standards. For example:

• In some Islamic countries you must wear a coat or gown over your clothes so that your arms and legs are covered, and a scarf over your hair. If you don't, you could be harassed or even arrested.
• T-shirts - which are the norm for Australia - can be offensive to some people in countries with more modest dress codes, like Burma, Egypt, Iran, Kenya, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.

In some countries certain forms of dress are unacceptable at religious and other culturally important sites and some do not allow women in at all.

• In South East Asia you cannot enter Buddhist temples or royal palaces in shorts or sleeveless shirts.
• Shoes are never worn in Muslim mosques or Buddhist temples.

When you're on the road . . .

Bag snatching and theft of jewellery directly from your person is common in some countries.

• Don't display expensive jewellery.
• Keep your valuables well concealed.
• Remember that 'bum bags' can also be a target for thieves.

Hitch-hiking is extremely risky - there are very few, if any, places left in the world where hitch-hiking is safe for women, particularly women on their own. Be wary of being alone in lifts as some thieves 'work' high-rise buildings waiting for victims. Don't get into train carriage compartments where you would be the only passenger, or stay in one alone if everyone else gets off - attackers are known to target women alone in trains. Be careful on cruise ships - make sure that your door is firmly locked and chained.

• Crowded trains and buses can also provide unwelcome opportunities for harassment. Raise the alarm, you could scare the attacker off.
• If possible, arrange your travel so that you arrive in an unfamiliar city during daylight rather than in the dark.
• Are you the only woman in a crowded bar? You may be challenging accepted standards and putting yourself at risk. Keep a careful eye on your drink - spiking is common everywhere.
• Be aware of safety standards in your chosen accommodation.
• For example, is your door secure? Portable inside locking devices are now available from most travel equipment suppliers. Avoid rooms with easy access from the outside.

. . . or on business

If you have a business appointment in an unfamiliar location, leave details of your destination with the hotel management and instruct them to raise the alarm if you have not returned by a certain time.

Don't give out your room number to associates too freely - this can give the wrong signal in some countries. If you are at a conference, leave your name badge in your room or purse - advertising your name could lead to unwelcome situations.

A young Australian woman attended a conference in a foreign city and went shopping downtown one afternoon. A young man approached her, greeting her by name and explained he was from the hotel where she was staying and would look after her.

He took her to meet friends at another hotel and bought her a drink. When she woke in the morning she had been assaulted and robbed. She discovered she was still wearing her conference name tag - that was how the young man had known her name.

Health issues

If you require regular or predictable medication while travelling, you should ask your doctor to arrange an appropriate supply. Care should be taken to observe the law in different countries with respect to possession of medications and it is advisable to take a letter from your doctor explaining your condition.

• In some countries, medications which may be readily available in Australia are illegal.
• If in doubt, check with the consulates or embassies of the countries you intend to visit to ensure that your medicines, and the quantities you will be carrying, are legal.

For your convenience and peace of mind, take enough feminine hygiene products and (if you use them) contraceptives to last you if you are headed somewhere where they may not be available.

Avoid becoming dehydrated. This is a common cause of urinary tract infections - a painful affliction when travelling. Dehydration is a particularly serious risk in hot climates and you should drink plenty of bottled water - being careful to check the seal on bottles first.

Be aware of the risk of HIV - avoid ear-piercing, acupuncture, tattooing or dental work while on the road. Practise safe sex. Never assume that your partner is not HIV-positive or carrying another sexually transmitted infection such as gonorrhoea. Carry a reliable brand of condom where you think they might not be available.

Marriage overseas

Every year Australians fall in love and get married overseas. You should be aware that laws regarding marriage vary from country to country and legal complications can arise.

For example, polygamy might be allowed in some countries where conservative interpretations of Sharia law are implemented. Some countries impose strict limitations on women's rights to seek property entitlements, inheritance, divorce, alimony, child support and custody. Accordingly, if you plan to marry overseas, check out the legal, cultural and religious implications for yourself, your intended spouse and any children either of you may already have or which you may have together at a later date.

In certain countries, Australian women who marry nationals of those countries can be subject to strict family controls and may be prevented from leaving that country without their husband's permission.

Children and babies

Parents travelling with children should read Tips for travelling parents and Arranging Child Care Services Overseas.

Citizenship issues

Children born overseas to an Australian parent can be registered as an Australian citizen by descent provided they meet the requirements and are under 25 years of age. See Form 118 (pdf)for more detailed information.

Custody issues

Some foreign governments do not recognise dual nationality. A child, whose birth is registered either in a foreign country or at a non-Australian embassy or consulate, can acquire the citizenship of their father's native country with no recognition by that country of their dual Australian citizenship. This can affect any decisions relating to the future custody of the child as these decisions can be based on local law.

Dual nationals or parents of dual nationals intending to visit a country where their child may be considered a national should consult a lawyer and seek legal advice regarding potential compulsory military service, child custody or other family law issues before leaving Australia.

Passport issues

Under Australian law, an Australian citizen under 18 years of age who has never married is regarded as a child. Children cannot be included in an adult's passport. Each child, including a newborn infant, must be issued with their own passport.

A passport application for a child must be lodged by a parent or other person with a caring responsibility for the child. Usually, the consent of both parents is required for the issue of a child's passport. Further information on this issue and other general information on passports for children.

If you are breastfeeding, find out beforehand whether it is acceptable to breastfeed publicly in the country you are visiting. Otherwise look for a private area to feed your baby. If you are expressing milk, it is a good idea to take your own equipment, including adaptors for electric pumps. You may be more vulnerable to thieves and pickpockets while travelling with babies and small children - for example, you may not have your hands free to hold onto your bags.

Childcare

Standards of childcare facilities overseas may vary considerably from those provided in Australia. Parents planning to use childcare facilities or employ the services of baby-sitters or nannies overseas may wish to research standards of childcare provided in their country of destination.

Further advice on how to select reputable childcare providers can be found at the National Childcare Accreditation Council's website or Child Wise's website. You can also contact Child Wise on 1800 991 099.

Good Beginnings National Parenting Project, a non-government organisation, has designed information brochures for families travelling by air with babies and young children. For more information contact Good Beginnings Australia on (02) 9215 2600, or to order information brochures, go to Good Beginnings website or write to Good Beginnings Australia at PO Box K969, Hay Market NSW 1240.

A final word

Keep in touch! The more other people know about your movements, the better protected you will be.

This information was provided by smartraveller, The Australian Government's travel advisory and consular assistance service. For more information, click here