Statement by Ms. Flavia Pansieri, Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights at the Side-event at the 27th session of the UN Human Rights Council ‘Human Rights in Pre- and Post-Disaster Situations’

17 September 2014

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

My thanks to Finland, the Philippines and Thailand for convening this side event on the relevance of human rights in pre- and post-disaster settings.

The threat of disasters is a very real one. The distressing images from the recent floods in South Asia, Serbia and Bosnia, as well as Typhoon Yolanda – among many others – remain vivid in all our minds. Data from the Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters indicates that 334 country-level disasters occurred in 2013, killing 22,616 people and affecting 96 million. Economic damages amounted to 118 billion US dollars.

Such events begin as natural phenomena. But they become disasters because of factors such as exposure, vulnerability and resilience. And these can be addressed by States - taking thoughtful and considered action to fulfil their obligations to protect people within their territory.

Typically, disasters exacerbate pre-existing human rights concerns. But disasters also lead to the new human rights challenges, for example by causing a breakdown in law and order.

And the impoverished, marginalised, those facing discrimination, and the otherwise vulnerable, typically have less capacity to prepare for and recover from such events.

Gender-based violence; abuse and exploitation of children; loss of housing, land and property rights and related documentation; discrimination in the delivery of aid – these are among the human rights concerns that we see in the aftermath of disasters.

Understanding and knowing where human rights risks and vulnerabilities lie can flag us to areas where States and other actors should focus their efforts to strengthen preparedness

For example, contingency planning and emergency-preparedness strategies need to consider the specific situation and needs of different groups: How are single-headed households and pregnant women affected? Do evacuation plans include particular assistance for persons with disabilities and older persons? Are supplies delivered to all in a non-discriminatory manner? Are security forces responding in a way that respects human rights obligations?

Human rights-based approaches to disaster response can help to detect and address emerging concerns. They also remind us how critical it is to provide the affected population with factual, timely and regular information related to the crisis. Explaining the measures taken by authorities, and informing people about what they can do to protect themselves, is not only their right; it will also help to address fear, reduce the risk of violence and insecurity, and strengthen the overall humanitarian response.

Using this human rights lens, OHCHR contributes to disaster preparedness and response efforts alongside national and international actors, including civil society. Let me give you some concrete examples from the Philippines, Nepal, Haiti and the Pacific, where OHCHR either led or participated in the protection cluster:

In the Philippines, in the aftermath of Typhoon Yolanda, OHCHR advocated for decision-making to be transparent and involve the affected population, and promoted human rights-based criteria for the selection of beneficiaries of temporary housing. OHCHR also contributed to the development of guidance on housing, land and property rights, jointly issued by the Philippine Commission on Human Rights and the Special Rapporteur on Adequate Housing.

Following the 2008 floods in Nepal, together with our national and international partners, OHCHR ensured that marginalised groups who would otherwise not have benefited from life-saving services, such as dalits, were included.

In Haiti, following the 2010 earthquake, OHCHR played a key role in helping to identify a number of significant concerns about the protection of internally displaced people being sheltered in camps, including through organising Joint Security Assessments with the Police Nationale Haitienne, MINUSTAH, and other partners.

More recently, in the Pacific, OHCHR integrated human rights concerns and considerations in assessments following Tropical Cyclone Ian in Tonga, and flash floods in the Solomon Islands to inform protection responses.

The many lessons that we have learned confirm the importance of protecting human rights alongside the delivery of emergency assistance. These efforts must be undertaken together to meet the needs of those affected in a manner that provides the basis for recovery and sustainable development. And human rights must be protected at every stage of a natural disaster – prevention, mitigation, relief, development, reconstruction, and rehabilitation.

The United Nations Human Rights Up Front Plan of Action builds on these lessons, as does the Centrality of Protection Agenda of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee.

I know that you, too, have lessons learned to share, and I look forward to hearing your ideas, so that our future work, whether separately or together, can benefit.

Thank you