This guidance was developed to support local governments in applying a human rights-based approach to emergency management planning and meeting their legal obligation under the Emergency and Disaster Management Act (EDMA) to include measures that address intersectional disadvantage in emergency planning.

 “While these disasters impact all of us, crises can also deepen inequities and place the most severe impact on marginalized communities, such as increases in hate, higher rates of gender-based violence and mental health challenges,” said Commissioner Kasari Govender. “Adopting a human rights-based approach to emergency and disaster plans empowers local authorities and governments to develop response measures that prevent inadvertently perpetuating inequality or worsening disaster impacts.”

The guidance builds on recommendation 8 from the Commissioner’s inquiry into the rise of hate during the COVID-19 pandemic, which calls on the Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General and Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness to include plans to address hate to emergency response planning.