“Whereas recognition
of the inherent dignity and of the equal and
inalienable rights of all members of the human
family is the foundation of freedom, justice and
peace in the world,
Whereas disregard and contempt for human rights
have resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged
the conscience of mankind, and the advent of a world
in which human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech
and belief and freedom from fear and want has been
proclaimed as the highest aspiration of the common
people.” Preamble
of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
The Salt Lake City Human
Rights Commission will continue working toward freedom,
justice, and peace for every individual in our
community, regardless of their differences. We embrace
differences as assets that make our community strong.
The Human Rights Commission is particularly strengthened
by the unique experiences and culture that each
commissioner brings with them to our work. Sadly, there
is far too much evidence that with
diversity comes discrimination.
In 2008 and 2009 we met with members of our community
and heard their stories of discrimination. From these
stories and other evidence, we wrote a
discrimination
report that was used to help substantiate the need for
two non-discrimination ordinances protecting individuals
from employment and housing discrimination based on
sexual orientation and gender identity. These
ordinances
passed and were signed into law at the end of 2009.
As our work continues in 2010 we will direct our
attention toward hate crimes and racism, the most common
form of discrimination in our community.
If you are passionate about
human rights, please get involved – if not with the city,
then somewhere. In the words of Robert F. Kennedy, “Each
time a man stands up for an ideal or acts to improve the
lot of others or strikes out against injustice, he sends
forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other
from a million different centers of energy and daring,
those ripples build a current that can sweep down the
mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.”
The Human Rights Commission meets once a month on every third Thursday at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall, 451 South State, Room 335
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