The Differences in the Nature of Protective Challenges Posed by Natural and Artificially Motivated Environmental Hazards to Obligations. Article 11 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (Hereafter CRPD)

Abstract

In recent years, mankind has seen horrific incidents of natural and man-made disasters causing forced migration and internal displacement. Examples of those natural environmental disasters to mankind include; earthquakes, floods, storms, hurricanes, landslides among many others. Man-made disastrous include armed conflict violence. Both of these situations are symbolizing examples of incidents that constitute humanitarian emergencies which more than often attract humanitarian attention through triggering humanitarian aid and humanitarian intervention for rescue or call for different forms of life saving measures. This paper is evaluating how the responsiveness, conduct and the accountability of States Parties may vary in the event of dealing with natural environmental disasters in comparison to mankind disasters such as civil wars. That is from being reactive to and becoming passive actors in some of the situations envisaged under Article 11 of the CRPD. The paper makes recommendations in terms of improving the better protecting of vulnerable groups such as persons with disabilities, in the event of forced migrations triggered by natural and man-made environmental emergencies.