Protecting the Human Right to Return with Dignity & Justice After Hurricane Katrina
•Human Rights Abuses Against Gulf Coast Residents
•US Disaster Response Law vs. Human Rights Standards
•Human Rights Reform of Governmental Response to Disasters
•A Look at US Government Support for the UN Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement
•UN Committee Calls on US Government to Protect Human Rights in Gulf Coast Recovery

In the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, Gulf Coast reconstruction policies by the Bush Administration have created a housing crisis that unjustly prolongs the displacement of thousands of predominantly African American residents, subjected workers to discrimination, exploitation, and abuse, prioritized the funding of charter schools that can exercise selective admissions criteria to exclude students, and denied local governmental requests for assistance to build a comprehensive and effective flood protection system, public healthcare facilities, and other critical infrastructure.  The Stafford Act, the federal law on governmental responses to national emergencies and disasters, fails to protect Gulf Coast residents from these governmental policies that seek to privatize communities and public services. 

The lack of housing, healthcare, schools, environmental protection, and flood protection for displaced Gulf Coast residents – who are predominantly African American – and the abusive treatment of hurricane evacuees and reconstruction workers – who are predominantly people of color – constitute a denial of human rights protections by governmental authorities.

AEHR advocates for a just, sustainable, and anti-racist rebuilding of Gulf Coast communities that respects the human right of all residents to return.  Central to our advocacy is raising public awareness about the need for implementing the United Nations’ Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement in every aspect of Gulf Coast recovery efforts in order to protect the human rights of displaced and returning residents.

Advocates for Environmental Human Rights

Headquarters:
650 Poydras Street, Suite 2523
New Orleans, Louisiana 70130
Tel. 504.799.3060
Fax 504.799.3061

Campaign & Policy Office:
1730 M Street, NW, Suite 412
Washington, DC 20036
Tel. 202-775-0055
Fax 202-293-7110

Monique Harden
Co-Director & Attorney
mharden@ehumanrights.org

Nathalie Walker
Co-Director & Attorney
nwalker@ehumanrights.org

Michele Roberts
Campaign & Policy Coordinator
mroberts@ehumanrights.org