Archives West Finding Aid

The Human Rights Commission was created in 1963 to promote equality and understanding among Seattle residents and to study, investigate, and make recommendations regarding discrimination based on race, color, religion, and national origin. The Human Rights Department (HRD) was created in 1969, replacing a small Office of Human Rights in the Executive Department. The agency enforced the Seattle Fair Employment Practices Ordinance and Open Housing and Public Accommodations Ordinance, and developed outreach and public education programs to help reduce incidents of discrimination. In 1980 all employment and housing discrimination functions were consolidated under HRD with transfer of certain enforcement responsibilities from the Office for Women's Rights. In 1995 the Compliance Unit which monitored and enforced the Women and Minority Business Enterprise Ordinance was moved to the Department of Administrative Services and HRD's affirmative action monitoring function was transferred to the Personnel Department. In 1996, most of the functions of HRD and the Office for Women's Rights were consolidated into a new Office for Civil Rights (OCR). OCR provides a forum for resolving complaints of discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations, and contracting within the Seattle city limits. The office also provides policy recommendations to city agencies, as well as outreach and education to the community on civil rights issues. OCR staffs five advisory commissions: the Human Rights Commission, the Women's Commission, the LGBT Commission, the Commission for People with Disabilities, and the Immigrant and Refugee Advisory Board.