North Dakota Human Rights Coalition
Working to effect change so that all people in North Dakota enjoy full human rights
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North Dakota Human Rights Coalition Working to effect change so that all people in North Dakota enjoy full human rights |
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Action Alert: Thanks to Governor Hoeven and his staff
The NDHRC has been asking the Division of Human Rights in the North Dakota Department of Labor to take several actions since June, 2001. On September 9, 2003, the NDHRC Board of Directors met with four members of Governor Hoeven's staff, and we have been promised that our longstanding requests will be addressed. One request is that Governor Hoeven establish an Advisory Committee to the Division of Human Rights. View the full request at bottom of this page. More information on all the requests is available at http://www.ndhrc.org/request_to_governor_hoeven_June%2023.htm.
The Advisory Committee we've proposed would assist and be a resource for the Division of Human Rights in the Department of Labor and help the Division be an effective means within state government by which acts of discrimination be minimized and eventually eliminated altogether. The Advisory Committee would include people who are protected from discrimination in the North Dakota Human Rights Act. More information on the Advisory Committee is attached.
You can help us to let Governor Hoeven know that there's support for an Advisory Committee. Please contact the following members of Governor Hoeven's staff and convey your support for an Advisory Committee to the Division of Human Rights.
William Goetz, Chief of Staff, wgoetz@state.nd.us Houdek, Duane E., Policy Advisor and Attorney for Governor Hoeven, dhoudek@state.nd.us Bachmeier, Mark D., Labor Commissioner, mbachmei@state.nd.us Kathy Kulesa, Director of the Division of Human Rights, kkulesa@state.nd.us
Sample message:
As a supporter of the North Dakota Human Rights Coalition, I am writing to thank you for your consideration of the Advisory Committee proposal by the NDHRC, and ask that you encourage Governor Hoeven to create this Advisory Committee for the Division of Human Rights.
An Advisory Committee in the Division would be a resource for information for the Divison of Human Rights, a sounding board for reviewing procedures and initiatives, a link to the communities in North Dakota, and a demonstration of the Division's willingness to work collaboratively with community leaders.
An Advisory Committee as proposed by the NDHRC would help demonstrate North Dakota's acceptance of diversity and willingness to address the challenges that increased diversity will bring.
[Name] [Address]
Update on the requests:
We left the meeting on September 9 with the following commitments:
(1) By early November, 2003: we'll be given an answer on our request for an Advisory Committee to the Division of Human Rights. If they agree to establish the Committee, they'll also have information on how it would be established and what it will do.
(2) By early 2004: Labor Commissioner Bachmeier will draft administrative rules for the Division of Human Rights, including the definition of "probable cause"; that will begin the process of approving the rules for use by the Division, and that process will include an opportunity for public comment (and at least one public hearing on the proposed rules).
(3) Within the next year: the Division of Human Rights' toll-free telephone number will be in one telephone book for each region of the state within the next year, as the new ones are issued. Some areas have multiple telephone books; they'll pick only one of the books because of the cost of the listings statewide.
Given this, we anticipate seeing progress in the human rights arena in North Dakota, especially if an Advisory Committee is created. Please feel free to forward to others who are interested in furthering human rights in North Dakota.
Cheryl Bergian
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North Dakota Human Rights CoalitionRequest for Creation of Advisory Committee to the Division of Human Rights
The NDHRC was given assurances in the 2001 legislative session that the need for an Advisory Committee would be addressed
The NDHRC formally requested the creation of the Advisory Committee in a letter to Commissioner Bachmeier in June, 2001
The NDHRC provided an Advisory Committee Proposal to Commissioner Bachmeier in February, 2002
The NDHRC reiterates the intent and reasons for the Advisory Committee, as outlined in that Proposal
The intent of the Advisory Committee is:
To be of assistance and to be a resource for the Division of Human Rights in the Department of Labor; and
To help the Division be an effective means within state government by which acts of discrimination be minimized and eventually eliminated altogether
The functions of the Advisory Committee would be:
A resource for the review of a summary of the work of the Division of Human Rights
A sounding board for reviewing procedures and initiatives
A resource for information
A link to the community
A demonstration of the Division’s willingness to cooperate collaboratively with community leaders
The composition of the Advisory Committee should be composed of at least 10-12 members who are:
Representatives of the leadership of organizations of people who are members of the protected classes of the North Dakota Human Rights Act
Representatives of the leadership in the business community
Professionals who have experience in the area of human rights enforcement and equal opportunity
Individuals with a legal background and experience in the area of human rights enforcement and administrative law
Appointments could be made in a similar manner as the State Independent Living Council
Nominees are submitted with recommendations for appointment and the Governor would then have the discretion to finalize any of the recommendations for appointments
Members would serve without compensation other than reimbursement for travel, lodging and meal expenses
More than half of the Native Americans and “Non-White” color grouping in the 2001 Survey of the Perception of Discrimination in North Dakota felt that they had experienced discrimination in North Dakota; this perception is very disturbing and its effect on the people of color who live in North Dakota must be addressed
Concluding thoughts:
Our society is progressively becoming more diverse, and we, as a state, need to embrace the diversity that has become more pronounced elsewhere in our nation. It is our belief that discrimination is not only unlawful, but ultimately undermines the values and resources of our culture and society
We believe that an Advisory Committee can assist the Division of Human Rights to minimize the extent to which discrimination is experienced by the citizens of North Dakota
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North Dakota Human Rights Coalition P.O. Box 1961 Fargo, North Dakota 58107-1961 Phone: (701) 239-9323 Fax: (701) 478-4452 Email: humanrights@ndhrc.org
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