Human Rights related to disaster management

Looking at the UN Declaration of Human Rights (1948), signed by the Netherlands and the United States, supported by Japan, it has two types of articles relating to disaster management, which are also found in the constitutions of these countries. These types are equality and non-discrimination, and a right to a certain standard of safe living which the government should help to provide. Below the articles can be found for comparison.

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. Article 2. Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty. Article 3. Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person. Article 22. Everyone, as a member of society, has the right to social security and is entitled to realization, through national effort and international co-operation and in accordance with the organization and resources of each State, of the economic, social and cultural rights indispensable for his dignity and the free development of his personality. Article 25. (1) Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control.

Table 1: Articles from the UN Declaration of Human Rights (1948) relating to human rights and disaster management

Preamble. We recognize that all peoples of the world have the right to live in peace, free from fear and want. Article 13. All of the people shall be respected as individuals. Their right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness shall, to the extent that it does not interfere with the public welfare, be the supreme consideration in legislation and in other governmental affairs. Article 14. All of the people are equal under the law and there shall be no discrimination in political, economic or social relations because of race, creed, sex, social status or family origin. Peers and peerage shall not be recognized. No privilege shall accompany any award of honor, decoration or any distinction, nor shall any such award be valid beyond the lifetime of the individual who now holds or hereafter may receive it. Article 25.  All people shall have the right to maintain the minimum standards of wholesome and cultured living. In all spheres of life, the State shall use its endeavors for the promotion and extension of social welfare and security, and of public health.

Table 2: Articles from the Japanese Constitution relating to human rights and disaster management

Article 1. All persons in the Netherlands shall be treated equally in equal circumstances. Discrimination on the grounds of religion, beliefs, political opinion, race, sex or on any other grounds whatsoever shall not be permitted. Article 21. The concerns of the government are focused on the habitability of the land and the protection and improvement of the living environment.

Table 3: Articles from the Dutch Constitution (1815) relating to human rights and disaster management

Preamble We, the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America. Article 3, Section 2 (1) (abbreviated) The judicial Power shall extend to all Cases, in Law and Equity, arising under this Constitution, the Laws of the United States, and Treaties made, or which shall be made, under their Authority.

Table 4: Articles from the American Constitution (1787) relating to human rights and disaster management

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

Table 5: Text from the American Declaration of Independence (1776) relating to human rights and disaster management