HOW DO NATURAL DISASTERS AFFECT HUMAN RIGHTS?

Lack of safety and security (e.g. rampant crime, secondary impacts of natural disasters, etc)

Gender-based violence;

Unequal access to assistance, basic goods and services and discrimination in aid provision;

Abuse, neglect and exploitation of children;

Family separation,

Loss/destruction of personal documentation and difficulties to replace it, in particular due to inadequate birth
registration mechanisms;

Inadequate law enforcement mechanisms and restricted access to a fair and efficient justice system;

Lack of ineffective feedback and complaint mechanisms;

Unequal access to employment and livelihood opportunities;

Forced relocation;

Unsafe or involuntary return or resettlement of persons displaced by the disaster;

Lack of property restitution and access to land.
Why a human rights based approach to protect?
 Provides the framework and necessary standards for
humanitarian assistance activities (ex: human dignity,
non discrimination..)
 Enhance the protection value of assistance activities
(food and adequate housing for women and children:
reduction of risk of sexual explotation, child labour…)
We the peoples of the United Nations [are] determined .. to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth
of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women and of
nations large and small
(the United Nations Charter )
International human rights are:
•Legal rights guaranteed by international law
•Applicable to all human beings
•Applicable at all times – in peace, armed conflict, in situations of natural
disasters
Sources of Human Rights
•Universal human rights conventions
•Regional human rights conventions
•National constitutions/laws guaranteeing human
rights
The United Nations Declaration
on Human Rights
•Preeminent document on international human
rights standards
•Serves as the springboard for treaties
pertaining to human rights
Article 1
All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are
endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in
a spirit of brotherhood
Core International HR Treaties
ICESCR = Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights
ICCPR = Civil and Political Rights
CRC = Convention on the Rights of the Child
CEDAW = Elimination of Discrimination Against Women
CRMW = Rights of All Migrant Workers
CRPD = Rights of Persons with Disabilities
CAT = Convention Against Torture
CPPED = Protection from Enforced Disappearance
CERD = Elimination of Racial Discrimination
INTERNATIONAL CONVENANT on ECONOMIC,
SOCIAL and CULTURAL RIGHTS (ICESCR, 1966)
Sets out economic, social, and cultural guarantees:
• Principle of non discrimination
• Right to adequate food, adequate shelter, clothing
• Right to health care (right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable
standard of physical and mental health)
• Right to adequate standard of living
Specially protected persons, Article 10
The States Parties to the present Covenant recognize that:
1. The widest possible protection and assistance should be accorded to the
family, which is the natural and fundamental group (…).
2. Special protection should be accorded to mothers during a reasonable
period before and after childbirth. (…)
3. Special measures of protection and assistance should be taken on behalf of
all children and young persons without any discrimination for reasons of
parentage or other conditions. (…)
• Guarantees concerning work, social welfare, education and partecipation in cultural
life
INTERNATIONAL COVENANT ON
ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS (ICESCR)
Principle of non-discrimination, Article 2
1. (…)
2. The States Parties to the present Covenant undertake to guarantee that the
rights enunciated in the present Covenant will be exercised without
discrimination of any kind as to race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or
other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.
Article 3
The States Parties to the present Covenant undertake to ensure the equal
right of men and women to the enjoyment of all economic, social and cultural
rights et forth in the present Covenant.
Minimum standard of living, Article 11
1. The states Parties to the present covenant recognize the right of everyone to
an adequate standard of living for himself and his family, including adequate
food, clothing and housing, and to the continuous improvement of living
conditions. (…)
2. The states Parties to the present Covenant, recognizing the fundamental right
of everyone to be free from hunger, shall take individually and through int’l cooperation, the measures (…) which are needed:
a) To improve methods of production, conservation and distribution of food by making
full use of technical and scientific knowledge, (…).
INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION ON CIVIL AND
POLITICAL RIGHTS (ICCCPR, 1966)
Sets a catalogue of civil and political rights:
•
Right to self determination
•
Right to non discrimination
•
Right to life,
•
Right to physical integrity (No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or
degrading treatment or punishment)
•
Right to recognition before the law
•
Right to political participation,
•
Right to freedom of movement,
•
Right to choice of residence,
•
Protection of the family (The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society)
Int’l “Soft Law” Instruments on
Domestic Disaster Response
- Overview 
Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement (1998)

Principles on Housing and Property Restitution for Refugees and Displaced Persons
(Pinheiro Principles 2005)

Protecting Persons Affected by Natural Disasters:
IASC Guidelines on Human Rights and Natural Disaster (2011)
As such, all documents:
 are not binding, even though they contain binding international law obligations under
treaty and customary law (they are consistent with international human rights law and
international humanitarian law and international refugee law)



address both international and domestic response
address governmental and non-governmental actors in humanitarian action
explicitly acknowledge the primary responsibility of national Governments and
domestic authorities
Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement
- “IDP Guidelines” - 2011
 Endorsed by UN Human Rights Commission and UN General Assembly
 Purpose:
protection of internally displaced persons in internal conflict situations,
natural disasters and other situations of forced displacement
 Referral in all phases of displacement
 Are guiding principles to guide Governments and non-governmental
humanitarian actors
 Definition of “IDPs”
 persons or groups of persons
 forced or obliged to leave their homes or places of habitual residence
 in particular as a result of or in order to avoid the effects of (…) natural or humanmade disasters
 who have not crossed an internationally recognized State border
Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement
- “IDP Guidelines” - 2011
I.
INTRODUCTION: definition of IDPs
II. GENERAL PRINCIPLES: responsibility of the national authorities to protect
IDPs, no discrimination for IDPs, special attention to vulnerable groups (Pr.14)
III. PROTECTION FROM ARBITRARY DISPLACEMENT: states avoid forced
displacement. In case is unavoidable, established guarantees are lawful (Pr.
5-9)
IV. PROTECTION AND ASSISTANCE DURING DISPLACEMENT: IDPs enjoy
civil, political, economic, social, cultural rights. (i.e: no violence or torture,
access to food and water, freedom of movement, personal documentation,
education, employment, right to vote) Pr. 10-23
V. ACCESS TO HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE: in case States do not provide
assistance, international organizations offer their services (Pr. 24-27)
VI. DURABLE SOLUTIONS: right for IDPs to return home or resettle;
participation in the planning, return of lost property or compensation, access
to public services (Pr. 28-30)
 provide practical guidance to States, UN agencies and the broader
international community on how best to address the complex legal and
technical issues surrounding housing, land and property restitution
 provide a consolidated and universal approach to dealing effectively with
outstanding housing and property restitution claims.
SECTION II-IV: re-affirm existing human rights and apply them to the specific question of
housing and property restitution
Pr. 2 The right to housing and property restitution
Pr. 3 The right to non-discrimination
Pr. 4 The right to equality between men and women
Pr. 5The right to be protected from displacement
Pr. 6 The right to privacy and respect for the home
Pr.7 The right to peaceful enjoyment of possessions
Pr.8 The right to adequate housing
Pr.9 The right to freedom of movement
Pr.10 The right to voluntary return in safety and dignity
SECTION V-VI:
 Reaffirms what States should do in terms of developing national housing and property
restitution procedures and institutions, and ensuring access to these by all displaced persons
(Principles 11-13)
 stress the importance of consultation and participation in decision-making by displaced
persons
 outline approaches to technical issues of housing, land and property records, the rights of
tenants and other non-owners and the question of secondary occupants (Pr. 14- 17)
 Explore legislative measures, the prohibition of arbitrary and discriminatory laws, the
enforcement of restitution decisions and judgments (Principles 18- 20)
 Requires compensation (Principle 21)
 Responsibility of the international community in ensuring the right to housing,land and
property restitution, as well as the right to voluntary return in safety and dignity (principle 22)
IASC Operational Guidelines on
Human Rights in Natural Disasters
Part I: Introduction
Part II: Operational Guidelines
A. Life, Security, Physical Integrity of the Person, & Family Ties
B. Provision of Food, Health, Shelter, & Basic Necessities of Life
C. Education, Housing, Land & Property, and Livelihoods
D. Documentation Freedom of Movement, Re-establishment of
Family Ties, Freedom of Expression & Opinion, and Elections
Part III: Protection of Specific Groups of Persons
A. Protection of Life, Security, Physical Integrity of
the Person, and Family Ties
A.1 Life saving measures, in particular evacuations
A.2 Protection against separation of families
A.3 Protection against secondary impacts of natural hazards
A.4 Protection against violence, incl. gender based violence
A.5 Security in host families and communities, in camps or in
collective shelters
A.6 Dealing with mortal remains
B. Protection of Rights related to the Provision of
Food, Health, Shelter, & Basic Necessities of Life
B.1 General principles
Safe, unimpeded and non-discriminatory access
 Specific measures for persons with specific protection needs
 Availability, Accessibility, Acceptability and Adaptability




Humanitarian aid provided on the basis of assessed needs
Internal Displacement  assistance to host families/communities
Assistance must consider gender-specific roles in affected groups
B.2 Provision of food, water and sanitation, shelter,
clothing and essential health services
C. Protection of Rights to Education, Housing,
Land & Property, and Livelihoods
C.1 Education
C.2 Housing, Land and Property, and Possessions
C.3 Transitional shelter, housing and evictions
C.4 Livelihood and work
D. Protection of Rights Related to Documentation
Freedom of Movement, Re-establishment of Family
Ties, Freedom of Expression & Opinion, and Elections
D.1 Documentation
D.2 Freedom of movement (DURABLE SOLUTIONS)



Return
Local integration
Re-settlement IN the country
D.3 Re-establishing family ties
D.4 Expression, assembly and association, and religion
D.5 Electoral rights
Government’s Responsibilities
 Respect = must ensure that all state bodies do not violate human
rights
 Protect = must prevent and stop rights violations by individuals or
groups, and investigate, prosecute, punish abuse and ensure
access to legal remedies
 Fulfill = must take all possible measures to ensure people can
access and enjoy their rights by developing legal and
administrative frameworks (principle of non discrimination)
“Responsibility to Protect”
 IASC Guidelines, Introduction
Individuals and groups of individuals affected by natural disasters have the right to request and receive such
protection and assistance from their governments
 IDP Guidelines, Principle 25
1. The primary duty and responsibility to internally displaced persons for providing humanitarian
assistance to internally displaced persons lies with national authorities.
 IPD Guidelines, Principle 5
All authorities and international actors shall respect and ensure respect for their obligations
under international law (…), in all circumstances, so as to prevent and avoid conditions
that might lead to displacement of persons.
 IDP Guidelines, Principle 6
1. Every human being shall have the right to be protected against being arbitrarily displaced from
his or her home or place of habitual residence.
2. The prohibition or arbitrary displacement includes displacement:
(…)
(d) In cases of disasters, unless the safety and health of those affected requires their evacuation;
(…).
3. Displacement shall last no longer than required by the circumstances.
Principles of Non Discrimination
 IDP Guidelines, Principle 1
1. Internally displaced persons shall enjoy, in full equality, the same rights and freedoms under
international and domestic law as do other persons in their country. They shall not be
discriminated against in the enjoyment of any rights and freedoms on the ground that they are
internally displaced
 IDP Guidelines, Principle 2
1. These Principles shall be observed by all authorities, groups and persons irrespective of their
legal status and applied without any adverse distinction. The observance of these Principles shall
not affect the legal status of any authorities, groups or persons involved.
 IDP Guidelines, Principle 4
1. These Principles shall be applied without discrimination of any kind, such as race, colour, sex,
language, religion or belief, political or other opinion, national, ethnic or social origin, legal or
social status, age, disability, property, birth, or on any other similar criteria.
2. Certain internally displace persons, such as children, especially unaccompanied minors,
expectant mothers, mothers wit young children, female heads of household, persons with
disabilities and elderly persons, shall be entitled to protection and assistance required by their
condition and to treatment which takes into account their special needs
Principle of Non-Discrimination
 Pinheiro Principles, Principle 3
3.1 Everyone has the right to be protected from discrimination on the basis of
race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or
social origin, property, disability, birth or other status.
3.2 States shall ensure that de facto and de jure discrimination on the above
ground is prohibited and that all persons, including refugees and
displaced persons, are considered equal before the law
 IASC Guidelines, General Principle I
I. Persons affected by natural disasters should enjoy the same rights and
freedoms under human rights law as others in their country and not be
discriminated against. Targeted measures to address assistance and
protection needs of specific categories of affected populations do not
constitute discrimination if, and to the extent that, they are based on
differing needs.
PROTECTION
All activities aimed at ensuring full respect for the rights of the individual
in accordance with the letter and the spirit of the relevant bodies of law.
PROTECTION IN EMERGENCY?
In the context of humanitarian action can be understood as the role that humanitarian
and (in the context of recovery) development actors play with regard to ensuring that
the rights of affected persons under international human rights law are respected,
protected and fulfilled without discrimination.
HUMAN RIGHTS  Foundation for Protection
PROTECTION  Protecting Human Rights in emergencies
WHO?
WOMEN
CHILDREN
PERSONS
HIV-AIDS
DISABLED
ELDERLY
IDPS
MINORITIES
THE
CORE
PRINCIPLES
HUMANITARIAN ACTION
•
•
•
•
•
Do no harm
Humanity ( dignity and respect)
Impartiality
Independence
Neutrality
BUT ALSO:
Confidentiality
Sensitivity
Strengthen local capacity
Understand the context
Professionalism
OF
12-01-2011: earthquake in Haiti UNHCR rapid response team: identification of
needs and protection mechanism
Support Cluster Protection
43 QUIP’S PROJECT to support income generating activities and education
to prevent sexual violence and statelessness
PREVENT STATELESSNESS ACTIVITIES and HUMAN TRAFFICKING: lack
of personal documentation, no access to basic services and no recognition of
their rights as citizens
SGBV PROJECTS
CONTEXT: lack of precise statistics on the real number of sexual violence inside the
camps
ACTIVITIES:
• Support UNFPA and Haitian Government to establish a comprehensive interagency
data collection and case management.
Ensure adequate SOP’s for accountability of cases
Assist limited number of SGBV survivors with medical, psychosocial, legal counseling
& referrals for victims through local NGO partners,
• Safe & friendly spaces (for persons with specific needs): T- shelter
• Relocalisation outside Haiti in case of lack of protection in Haiti
DOCUMENTATION
CONTEXT: lack of personal documentation (lost or never had)
ACTIVITIES:
• Identification of 4500 beneficiaries with specific needs in order to obtain birth
certificates, as well as land property certificates ( in order to avoid forced eviction)
• Establish a data collection and a case management in the “Etat Civil” offices
• Advocacy activities with Haitian authorities for accession to the 1954 Convention
relating to the Status of Statelessness person and 1961 Convention on the
Reduction of Statelessness.
THANK YOU!