Protection of minorities in disaster situations

In practice, there are varying mechanisms to protect minorities in disaster situations. These include ensuring that minorities receive disaster information and messages in languages they understand; consulting and collaborating with them in disaster planning and execution; putting in place mechanisms that protect them from discrimination; as well as considering their specific needs such as allowance for religious and ritual practices; keeping them together if they so wish in order to maintain their cultural identity and heritage, among others. Moreover, it is always important to put in place mechanisms to check marginalisation or discrimination against minorities on cultural grounds.

Cultural Factors: Customs/traditions/rituals, Rule of law, Social exclusion

Hazards: Natural hazards, Man-made non-intentional hazards or emergency situations

Disaster Phases: Response, Preparedness

Types of Actors Concerned: National civil protection body

Recommendations:

• Use trustworthy, widespread, multi-lingual, culturally appropriate and inclusive means of alerting the target population in case of disasters
• Employ an overarching rights-based approach in disaster policies and operations
• Use cultural factors to improve the effectiveness of disaster communication