Monitoring Human Rights in the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery
The Human Rights Commission has releasing a report calling for
people and their human rights to be put at the heart of the
recovery in Canterbury, says Chief Commissioner David
Rutherford.
"At its best, this is what the recovery has been about. There
are some great examples of that. But where we get stuck is when the
affected people are left out of the picture.
"The Canterbury earthquakes represent one of New Zealand's
greatest contemporary human rights challenges.
"Most New Zealanders may not see it in those terms, but we all
recognise the situations of those still living in broken homes,
fighting to resolve insurance claims, or struggling under the
strain of financial hardship.
"The report examines human rights challenges that have emerged
during the recovery and makes 33 recommendations to improve access
to adequate housing, health services and help business make a
positive contribution to human rights.
"Progress has been made. Everyone involved is working hard and
doing their best, but we can do better. Many residents affected by
the earthquakes continue to experience deteriorating standards of
living and quality of life that go beyond the immediate effects of
the disaster.
"We are now seeing high levels of psychosocial harm caused by
the stress of community dislocation, financial distress, unresolved
insurance claims, and poor or insecure housing. Rights to property,
housing and participation in decision-making have also become major
issues.
"A natural disaster is no excuse for human rights to be ignored.
In fact, Canterbury shows us that when human rights are
incorporated in the response and recovery, they can lead to better
decisions, better services and a stronger recovery for
everyone.
"Today's report draws out practical lessons from this experience
for improving human rights outcomes. By sharing these, my hope is
that we can improve the situation for affected residents and help
better prepare for any future disaster, says David Rutherford.
Read the Human Rights Commission's report
"Monitoring Human Rights in the Canterbury Earthquake
Recovery".