Human Rights Day 2021

On #HumanRightsDay, we honor the work of people from across New York, and the world, to combat discrimination. There's still much more to be done to reduce inequality & advance human rights for all. More here from DHR Acting Commissioner Maria?Imperial:

December 10th is International Human Rights Day which commemorates the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It was adopted in 1948 in response to the horrors of the Second World War and the Holocaust to help ensure that they would never happen again. The Universal Declaration proclaims a simple idea: all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. It does not matter what country we are born in or who we are. Because we are human, we, therefore, have rights that must be respected and recognized.?

As the state agency entrusted to enforce the New York State Human Rights Law, we take this time every year to reflect on where we were, where we are, and where we want to be in our advancement of human rights.??

Every day, the Division works on different fronts to carry out its mission "to assure that every individual within this state is afforded an equal opportunity to enjoy a full and productive life” unhindered by discrimination, or bias. We prosecute individual complaints, initiate our own investigations into potential systemic offenders, and conduct outreach and education initiatives to partners, advocates, and the public at large.??

More than 75 years ago New York stood apart as it became the first state to enact a statewide prohibition against discrimination in employment based on race, color, creed, and national origin. The settings in which the protections afforded under the New York State Human Rights Law are applicable continue to expand covering not just employment, but housing, education, and places of accommodation shielding more than 17 different protected classes. We look forward to continuing this legacy in our role of fighting for equal rights for all New Yorkers.