CONTINUE?

Expanding the text here will generate a large amount of data for your browser to display

59. Ethical Issue #4

Vulnerable populations and defense of human rights

Vulnerable populations may include women and children, physically and mentally handicapped persons, the elderly, the infirm, the poor and people who have been displaced, internally or as refugees. The provision of humanitarian assistance in the context of disaster may not target these populations and thereby may serve to strengthen those who are already the most powerful or privileged in a community. Kenlynn Schroeder writes, "The right of an individual to receive equitable disaster relief and recovery aid that is culturally and gender-appropriate should be an inalienable right and not subject to negotiation. If there is a duty to bring relief aid to disaster survivors, then that duty must include non-discrimination on the basis of race, religion, gender, class, or political affiliation."

Ask participants to identify ethical issues that arise as disaster managers seek to comply with this principle. Examples include situations where disaster managers have had to challenge or violate national sovereignty in order to serve vulnerable populations or transgress cultural values and traditions to include women and children in disaster relief and management.

Vulnerable populations vs. Defense of human rights

"The right of an individual to receive equitable disaster relief and recovery aid that is culturally and gender-appropriate should be an inalienable right and not subject to negotiation."