Portuguese legislation concerning culture and human rights

In Portugal, for example, the right to equality, according to the respondent, meant that there is no standing rule on giving priority in disaster situations. Vulnerable groups such as children, women, the elderly, the sick, etc., are assessed by the disaster managers in each case to determine if priority should be given. As such, no guidelines or policy is identified in this country in this respect. On the contrary, in the UK and some other countries, there seems to be a conscious policy to give priority to those already identified as vulnerable groups in the context of disaster. In the UK for example, there is an official categorization of people who are considered vulnerable in the context of disaster management. The Serbian law on emergency similarly contains such list of vulnerable persons. One benefit, it seems from this approach, is that it allows for a prior assessment of the needs of these persons, and plans put in place to meet those needs should a disaster or emergency occur, unlike an ad hoc arrangement which may result from a situational assessment after the incident.

Cultural Factors: Gender roles, Age-related roles, Norms/values

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

Disaster Phases: Preparedness, Response

Types of Actors Concerned: National civil protection body

Recommendations:

• Employ an overarching rights-based approach in disaster policies and operations