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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NDHRC Testimony on Senate Bill 2216
SB 2216 Conduct by school students and staff Testimony January 21, 2003 Senate Education Committee
Chairman Freborg and members of the Senate Education Committee, I am Cheryl Bergian, Director of the North Dakota Human Rights Coalition. The Coalition includes a broad-based, statewide membership of individuals and organizations interested in the furtherance of human rights in North Dakota; the Coalition’s mission is to effect change so that all people in North Dakota enjoy full human rights. Our work is based on the principles enunciated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Article 26 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that “[education] shall promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups ….”
I speak in support of SB 2216. All North Dakota students should be treated with respect at school. The effect of SB 2216 would be to assist school districts in ensuring that students and staff promote respect, understanding and tolerance of each other and that if there are incidents of harassment or discrimination, that there is a process in place to further address those incidents before they have an opportunity to escalate. It is especially important that harassment or discrimination based on sexual orientation be included in this legislation. We are all familiar with the possibility of harassment or discrimination based on race or religion. However, it may not be as well known that gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender students report being harassed at incredible proportions, rising to 80% of those surveyed (source: 2001 National School Climate Survey). Please also note that this harassment occurs because of perceived sexual orientation, not just actual sexual orientation.
SB 2216 could avert situations in which harassment and discrimination rise to the level that school districts are faced with litigation, when if an incident had been addressed early, the situation could have been resolved. I would submit to you that school districts are more likely to face litigation for failure to act to protect a student facing harassment or discrimination if they do not have policy and procedure to address incidents, because they will not become aware of incidents before they escalate to the stage that litigation is initiated.
I appreciate this opportunity to testify on behalf of the ND Human Rights Coalition. |
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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