Human rights issues may crop up in post-Yolanda rehab

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) raised yesterday human rights issues that may crop up as the government undertakes the massive rehabilitation of calamity-hit areas in the country.

CHR Commissioner Cecilia Quisumbing, also a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council Advisory Committee, said the post-calamity rehabilitation efforts would be an opportunity to improve human rights protection.

She said the discussions in the House of Representatives on the proposed bill protecting the rights of internally displaced persons (IDPs) were also timely as Super Typhoon Yolanda had displaced an estimated four million people.

“The way the Philippines, along with international and civil society partners, handles the immediate relief and the longer-term rebuilding challenges, will impact human rights of Filipinos in the affected areas for many years to come,” Quisumbing said in a forum at the House.

“This is, in a way, an opportunity for the nation to become a model for human rights protection in post-disaster response around the world,” she said.

Quisumbing said natural disasters have multi-dimensional effects on human rights as they affect the right to life, to health and to security.

Major typhoons, which destroy crops and infrastructure, have long-term effects on livelihood, access to food and water, education, health care, and even access to justice and other basic services, she said.

Rescue, relief and rehabilitation action can be related to human rights advocacy but this does not happen automatically.

Quisumbing urged the government not to forget human rights as it – along with the international community – works to rebuild the typhoon-affected areas.

With such overwhelming and urgent demand, some would argue that attention to human rights cannot be made a priority – feeding and first aid come first, she said.