About Us

Mission

Promote human rights for the residents of Seattle and facilitate the prevention and elimination of discrimination.

Vision

A community in which diverse populations achieve harmony through understanding and acceptance.

Purpose

The Seattle Human Rights Commission consults with and makes recommendations concerning the development of programs which promote equality and justice. It works with the Director of the Office for Civil Rights to end discrimination based upon race, religion, creed, color, national origin, sexual orientation, political ideology, ancestry, age, marital and parental status, disability, Section 8, and retaliation.

It conducts appeals and holds hearings to identify and deal with acts of discrimination and assist in resolving racial tensions in the areas of employment, housing and public accommodations.

Committees

Discrimination Appeals Committee

The Seattle Human Rights Commission hears appeals after the Seattle Office for Civil Rights (SOCR) has received and investigated charges of discrimination that have been filed and the office has issued a Finding and Determination. The Charging Party can file an appeal of SOCR's Findings with SHRC within 30 days of the issuance of the decision. If the Appeal meets the legal standards for an appeal, SHRC will schedule a hearing of the appeal to determine whether SOCR's decision should be affirmed or returned to the SOCR office for further investigation. The SHRC hears employment, housing and public accommodation cases. At least one member of the Appeals Committee is an attorney.

1. there is a Finding of " No Reasonable Cause;"
2. there is a Finding of "Reasonable Cause" and a City department is a respondent;
3. there is a disputed "Administrative Closure;" and or
4. there is a disputed "Dismissal."

How to file an appeal with the Seattle Human Rights Commission of a "No Reasonable Cause" decision

Human Rights Day Planning Committee

The purpose of the Human Rights Day Planning Committee is to:

1. Plan a celebration of Human Rights Day, which is celebrated internationally on December 10th each year, in commemoration of the 1948 United Nations adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
2. Recognize an individual and an organization that have contributed to the advancement of human rights in the City of Seattle.
3. Establish and present a youth human rights day award.