HONOLULU (KHON2) — On Sunday, March 9, the United States was placed on the CIVICUS Monitor Watchlist. This is an international list that keeps track of international states who actively seek to violate human and civil rights.
This is the first time the U.S. has ever been placed on this list.
Now, while many do not care, Hawaii is not in a position not to care. Why? Because our economy nearly solely relies on tourism.
This means that many people with disposable income will probably avoid a place where they will need to fear for their human and civil rights.
But what does it mean to placed on this list? KHON2.com did a bit of investigating, and this is what we found:
- Inclusion on watchlist: The U.S. joins countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo, Italy, Pakistan and Serbia on the CIVICUS Monitor Watchlist. Our inclusion indicates there are significant concerns about the state of civic freedoms in many places across the U.S.
- Reasons for inclusion: CIVICUS cites actions by the Trump administration that threaten democratic norms. These include the dismissal of federal employees, appointment of loyalists to key positions, withdrawal from international organizations, restriction of media access and suppression of protests.
- Potential regression in civic space: The U.S., previously rated as having a “narrowed” civic space, risks regressing to an “obstructed” status if current trends continue.
- Global implications: CIVICUS warns that the U.S.’s decline in civic freedoms could embolden authoritarian regimes worldwide, and this will undermine global democratic standards like dominos. This is much like the U.S. foreign policy theory on anti-democratic maneuvers by the Soviet Union in which they compared the fall of democracies to that of falling dominos.
- Executive actions of concern: The administration’s executive orders aim to dismantle democratic institutions, challenge the rule of law and reduce global cooperation. These maneuvers raise alarms amongst civil society organizations since they are the steps a government system take to move a system away from standards of democracy.
- Impact on civil society organizations: There have been significant funding cuts to organizations supporting vulnerable populations that hinder efforts toward justice, inclusion and diversity.
- Suppression of dissent: Incidents such as the arrest of activists and increased enforcement measures against protests highlight a crackdown on dissenting voices.
- Media freedom under threat: The administration’s actions include restricting media access and revoking security clearances of journalists in a move to pose significant threats to press freedom.
- International criticism: The U.S.’s addition to the watchlist has drawn international criticism, with concerns that it undermines the country’s historical role as a proponent of democratic values.
- Call for action: Civil society organizations are urging the U.S. government to reverse these trends, restore democratic norms and protect civic freedoms to maintain its standing in the international community.
Potential impact on Hawai‘i’s tourism
Hawai‘i’s tourism industry is a vital component of our state’s economy. It contributes significantly to employment and state revenue.
So, the inclusion of the U.S. on the CIVICUS Watchlist could have several implications for Hawai‘i’s tourism sector:
- Perception of safety and stability: International tourists may perceive the U.S., including Hawai‘i, as less stable or welcoming which could lead to potential declines in visitor numbers, overall.
- Travel advisories: Some countries might issue travel advisories cautioning their citizens about visiting the U.S., which could deter potential tourists from traveling to the U.S. state of Hawaiʻi.
- Economic impacts: A decline in tourism could affect Hawai‘i’s economy and lead to reduced revenues for businesses reliant on tourists and potential job losses in the hospitality and service industries across the state.
- Cultural sensitivities: The spotlight on human rights issues might amplify existing concerns about the negative impacts of tourism on Native Hawaiian culture and the environment. This could lead to increased calls for sustainable tourism practices.
You can click here to read more about our inclusion on the list.
Being placed on this list isn’t a permanent situation.