International Association of Official Human Rights Agencies
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2018 NEWS & UPDATES
2017 Los Angeles County Hate Crimes Report published 2018
Since 1980, the Los Angeles County Commission on Human Relations has compiled, analyzed, and produced an annual report of hate crime data submitted by sheriff and city police agencies, educational institutions, and community-based organizations.
This report is the most recent in one of the longest continuing efforts in the nation to document hate crime. We value highly our collaboration with jurisdictions and organizations throughout the county who make investigating and addressing hate crime a principal priority. Using information from this report, the Commission sponsors an array of ongoing programs to prevent and respond to hate crime. (See “Preventing and Responding to Hate” in this report.) Through the years, this report has been disseminated broadly to policy-makers, law enforcement agencies, educators, and community groups throughout Los Angeles County and across the nation in order to better inform efforts to prevent, detect, report, investigate, and prosecute hate crimes. Read Report.
Posted December 16, 2018
Committed to Fairness and Equality. IDHR Invites Local Units of Government to Join the Campaign.
The Illinois Department of Human Rights (IDHR) is proud to invite Illinois Local Government Entities to join the "Commit to Fairness and Equality" Campaign. As we celebrate the state's Bicentennial, December 3, 2018, government entities such as municipalities, counties, public universities and community colleges have the opportunity to demonstrate their public commitment to the core values of fairness and equality.
By joining the Campaign leaders throughout the State can publicly proclaim Fairness and Equality for all people who live, work, study, play or worship in their communities.
Read Press Releases regarding launch of Fairness and Equality Campaign.
See photos of regional events hosted by IDHR in counties throughout the State of Illinois.
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Springfield (February) Black History Month Celebration
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Peoria Metro Area (March) Women History Month Celebration
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East St. Louis (April) Fair Housing Month Celebration
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Quad Cities (June) (Rock Island) Immigrant Heritage Month
Posted December 4, 2018
EEOC Ramps Up Outreach and Enforcement in FY 2018 to Address Workplace Discrimination
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nov. 9, 2018
Agency Met Increased Public Demand for Information, Training and Online Services
WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) responded to a significant increase this past fiscal year in calls, emails and online inquiries concerning potential discrimination claims and high demand for its new Respectful Workplaces Training Program. The increased demand is reflected in over 554,000 calls and emails to the EEOC and more than 200,000 inquiries concerning potential discrimination claims. The launch of a nationwide online inquiry and appointment system as part of the EEOC’s Public Portal resulted in a 30 percent increase in inquiries and over 40,000 intake interviews.
“Many people in thousands of workplaces around the country depend every day on the work of the EEOC. I am proud to say that the EEOC met the increased demand for our expertise, for information and training, and for strong enforcement to combat all forms of discrimination, including sexual harassment,” said Victoria A. Lipnic, Acting Chair.
Other fiscal year 2018 highlights include:
The EEOC's outreach programs reached 398,650 individuals, providing them with information about employment discrimination and their rights and responsibilities in the workplace. To address persistent workplace harassment, the EEOC conducted more than 300 Respectful Workplaces trainings that reached over 9,800 employees and supervisors in the private, public and federal sectors.
The EEOC secured approximately $505 million and other relief for over 67,860 victims of discrimination in the workplace. The EEOC’s legal staff resolved 141 merit lawsuits, filed 199 more in FY18, and filed 29 amicus curiae briefs on significant legal issues in employment discrimination cases.
The EEOC also made significant progress in reducing its backlogs, reporting a 19.5 percent reduction in its private sector charge backlog, a 19.4 percent reduction in the backlog of federal employee appeals, an 8.5 percent reduction in the backlog of federal employee hearings, and a 7.6 percent reduction in the backlog of Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests.
The EEOC’s accomplishments will be detailed in the EEOC's fiscal year 2018 Performance and Accountability Report that will be posted on the agency's web site on November 15, 2018. Comprehensive enforcement and litigation statistics for fiscal year 2018 will be available on the agency's website in early 2019.
The EEOC advances opportunity in the workplace by enforcing federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination. More information is available at www.eeoc.gov. Stay connected with the latest EEOC news by subscribing to our email updates.
Posted November 9, 2018
2018 IAOHRA Conference Resources
Conference Resources
Posted October 1, 2018
Metro Human Relations Commission, Nashville, Tennessee Commissioner Spotlight
This inaugural issue of the Metro Human Relations Commission Commissioner Spotlight introduce one of the longest serving members ever on the Metro Human Relations Commission: Avi Poster.
“We are only as strong as the work we do together,” Poster shares. Read and learn why he came to Nashville, how he’s handled career setbacks, and who inspires him. Read more.
Posted September 1, 2018
Proposed Changes to IAOHRA By Laws
The IAOHRA Bylaws Committee will be present for consideration and approval by member agency delegates at the IAOHRA Annual Corporation Meeting on August 29, 2018 which will be held during the IAOHRA Annual Conference in Cincinnati OH, August 26-30, 2018. See Proposed Changes to the IAOHRA Bylaws here. The changes include some grammatical changes, clarification regarding certain definitions and procedures, and add provisions for Actions by Consent (Article 3, Section 3.5), Meeting by Telephone and Other Provisions (Article 3, Section 3.6), and Standards of Conduct (Article 12).
Posted July 26, 2018
IAOHRA Awards Ceremony 2018 IAOHRA Conference - Submit Your Nominations
Our 69th Annual IAOHRA Conference will be in Cincinnati, Ohio, August 26-30, 2018. The theme this year is "Advancing the Civil and Human Rights Agenda; The Fierce Urgency of Now”. The awards luncheon is a very special opportunity to gather together to celebrate and honor exemplary achievements in civil and human rights. Please take a moment to nominate a deserving person or organization to receive this prestigious recognition from IAOHRA. The award categories are listed below. Winner will be announced on Wednesday, August 29, 2018 (Nomination Deadline is Monday, July 30, 2018) Submit your nomination here.
Posted July 3, 2018
50TH Anniversary of the Fair Housing Act
2018 marks the 50th anniversary of the passage of the Fair Housing Act, as well as the 30th anniversary of the creation of the National Fair Housing Alliance. As the nation’s leading fair housing advocacy organization, NFHA is uniquely positioned to plan and lead the 50th Anniversary activities. Far more than a celebration, the year-long commemoration will move us closer to being a nation where fair housing and opportunity are the norm in all communities.
Fair housing is not just an important tool for eliminating discrimination; it also helps to strengthen families, communities, businesses, and our overall economy. Fulfillment of the letter and spirit of the law means that every community can be a place of opportunity where people can live in diverse, inclusive, accessible neighborhoods with quality schools, healthy foods, meaningful jobs, health care, green spaces, quality credit, and the other opportunities that frame and affect our lives. More
Posted April 30, 2018
IAOHRA Commemorates the Life and Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., April 2018
Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee, on April 4, 1968, an event that sent shock waves reverberating around the world. A Baptist minister and founder of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), King had led the civil rights movement since the mid-1950s, using a combination of impassioned speeches and nonviolent protests to fight segregation and achieve significant civil-rights advances for African Americans. His assassination led to an outpouring of anger among black Americans, as well as a period of national mourning that helped speed the way for an equal housing bill that would be the last significant legislative achievement of the civil rights era. More
Posted April 30, 2018
U.S. Department of Justice News Release
The Department of Justice on Friday, Feb. 23, reached an agreement with the Jackson County School Board in Florida that paves the way for the district to complete desegregation and achieve full unitary status. The agreement, which was approved by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida on Friday, addresses all remaining issues in the school desegregation case and, when fully implemented, will lead to the closure of that case.
Posted February 28, 2018
IAOHRA Day on Capitol Hill
The IAOHRA Board of Directors would like to invite you to attend the IAOHRA Day on Capitol Hill, Thursday, March 8th, to increase our presence and develop relationships with lawmakers so we can more effectively protect and advance our interests in promoting human and civil rights.
The recently formed IAOHRA Board Legislative Committee will schedule meetings with key legislators, and we encourage you to schedule meetings with key Congressional representatives – Senators or House members - from your jurisdiction. Among the issues IAOHRA will raise include:
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Funding of key civil and human rights agencies to include the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, U.S. Commission on Civil Rights and the U.S. Department of Justice Community Relations Service
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Civil Rights Legislation to include H.R. 620, the ADA Education and Reform Act of 2017 and repair of the Voting Rights Act
Legislative visits will take place on Thursday, March 8 from 9:00 AM-11:00 AM, and 1:00-5:00 PM. See details here.
Posted February 27, 2018
IAOHRA Information Request: Opportunity to Contribute to Human Rights Report on the Status of Racial Discrimination in the U.S.: Brief Survey
The Columbia Law School Human Rights Institute (HRI) is thrilled to reach out to you to gather information on the vital role that your agencies play in promoting and protecting human rights, and the challenges you face in these efforts, to inform a report to the United Nations.
This builds on the Human Rights Institute and IAOHRA’s longstanding efforts to raise the visibility of your work, advocate for more resources for state-county-city human and civil rights agencies, and to identify and amplify ways to use human rights locally. (HRI previously secured a $50,000 grant for IAOHRA.) The U.S. is currently due to be reviewed for its compliance with the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (commonly known as CERD). The U.S. ratified CERD in 1994, committing to uphold its provisions. The treaty aims to eliminate racism, racial discrimination, and other forms of intolerance, and applies to all levels of government.
Please see CLS/IAOHRA Joint Letter for more information.
To capture the work that IAOHRA members are doing to eliminate discrimination in all its forms, and foster equality, tolerance, and inclusion, we have created a short survey. The information you provide will be considered for inclusion in the shadow report, and other advocacy efforts for state and local resources and support moving forward. (You will have the opportunity to review any information about your agency before the report is finalized, and any sensitive information will be treated as such).
This brief survey will only take about 5-10 minutes to complete and you can save & return to it if you're not able to complete it in one sitting.
Please fill out the survey here (https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/IAOHRAMemberSurvey)
Please contact Kate Kelly, HRI Human Rights Fellow, if you have any questions or issues. She can be reached at (212) 854-8364 or kkelly3@law.columbia.edu. Responses are requested by March 9th.
Posted February 13, 2018
Press Release: EEOC Aproves Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years 2018-2022
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced that it has approved its Strategic Plan for fiscal years 2018-2022. The Strategic Plan serves as a framework for the Commission in achieving its mission to prevent and remedy unlawful employment discrimination and advance equal opportunity for all in the workplace. Implementation of the new Strategic Plan will begin in February 2018.
“Through the plan announced today, the EEOC is taking a significant step toward realizing our vision of respectful and inclusive workplaces with equal opportunity for all,” said EEOC Acting Chair Victoria A. Lipnic. “I am pleased with the hard work of staff across the agency who provided assistance throughout the development of the plan, and I look forward to its successful implementation. I especially want to thank our Chief Operating Officer, Cynthia Pierre, for leading the work group in developing our plan. I also want to thank the external organizations who provided helpful comments to the agency during the public comment period. I said one year ago that the agency would be committed to increased transparency in development of our policies and procedures, and the process for the Strategic Plan contributed to that goal.”
The Commission voted unanimously to approve the FY 2018-2022 Strategic Plan. The EEOC is the leading federal law enforcement agency dedicated to preventing and remedying employment anti-discrimination laws and advancing equal opportunity for all in the workplace since 1965. The plan serves as a framework for the Commission in achieving its mission through the strategic application of the EEOC's law enforcement authorities, preventing employment discrimination and promoting inclusive workplaces through education and outreach, and organizational excellence. These three strategic objectives have associated performance measures detailing outcomes to be achieved during the four-year period the plan is in effect. The outcomes are designed to demonstrate the Commission’s progress in carrying out its mission in a time of shrinking resources and an increased demand for its services.
The process for developing this plan has been highly inclusive and collaborative. The plan was created by working groups comprised of staff from the EEOC's headquarters and field offices, with a broad range of internal and external expertise and understanding of the programs and activities conducted within the agency. The Commission also solicited public and stakeholder comments in the development of the plan. Every four fiscal years, Congress requires executive departments, government corporations and independent agencies to develop and post a strategic plan on their public websites. These plans direct the agency’s work and lay the foundation for the development of more detailed annual plans, budgets and related program performance information in the future.
The EEOC advances opportunity in the workplace by enforcing federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination. More information is available at www.eeoc.gov. Stay connected with the latest EEOC news by subscribing to our email updates.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/IAOHRAMemberSurvey
January 16th National Day of Racial Healing
The National Day of Racial Healing (NDORH) is an opportunity for people, organizations, and communities to call for racial healing, bring people together in their shared humanity and take action together to create a more just and equitable world.
NDORH is a part of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation’s Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation effort – a national and community-based process to plan for and bring about transformational and sustainable change, and to address the historic and contemporary effects of racism.
We’ve put our heads together with the team leading this year’s NDORH to come up with some specific ways that libraries could encourage community participation in the second annual National Day of Racial Healing, on January 16, 2018, the day after MLK Day.
Posted January 16, 2018
2018 IAOHRA Annual Conference, Workshop Proposal Form
We are pleased to announce the 2018 International Association of Official Human Rights Agencies 2018 Annual Conference at the Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza Hotel in Cincinnati, Ohio, August 26-30, 2018. Mark your calendars!
We also invite you to propose a training or education workshop at our conference. Complete online workshop proposal form here,
You can also use the fillable worshop proposal form (pdf) and email to iaohra@sso.org. See letter for more information.
Posted January 11, 2018