2022-testimony

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2022 Testimony

The Chair/Commissioner and other members of the New York City Commission on Human Rights senior staff periodically testify before the City Council on issues involving the Commission and the NYC Human Rights Law.

December 8, 2022

Before the Committee on Civil and Human Rights on Int. 632

"Turning to Intro. 632, the Administration supports the intent of the bill. Fair chance housing legislation aligns with the Commission’s longstanding commitment to advancing equity for all New Yorkers, and we support the goal of removing barriers to housing. The Administration is also committed to public safety and wants to ensure that legislation is aligned with Administration priorities.”

Download full testimony of Chair and Commissioner Annabel Palma on Intro 632

June 30, 2022

Before the Committee on Civil and Human Rights on Int. 474

"We are here at a time when rights related to reproductive and sexual health are under clear threat. The highest court in the United States has rolled back rights that were hard won fifty years ago to protect basic bodily autonomy. The Commission stood on the steps of City Hall last Friday with sibling agencies, the Mayor, and members of this Council to demonstrate that New York is and will remain a city where sexual and reproductive health and rights are not only protected, but that they are prioritized."

Download full testimony of Deputy Commissioner Kamuf Ward on Reproductive Rights

June 22, 2022

Oversight - CCHR and EEPC: Challenges Related to Post-Pandemic Return to Work

"Before turning to workplace protections under the Human Rights Law, I want to highlight some of the important work that the Commission has undertaken to address the uptick in discrimination and bias that have occurred since the onset of COVID-19. Throughout the pandemic the Commission’s work continued uninterrupted."

Download full testimony of Deputy Commissioner Kamuf Ward on Post-Pandemic RTW

May 3, 2022

Before the Committee on Civil and Human Rights & the Committee on Public Safety

"The Commission on Human Rights is tasked with addressing and investigating violations of the New York City Human Rights Law, which is a civil, not criminal law.  The agency’s bias response team meets the needs of communities and victims who experience bias and discrimination, and works to contact victim(s) to inform them of their rights and provide guidance on possible responses. Today’s testimony offers a brief description of complementary work of the Commission’s Community Relations Bureau and the Law Enforcement Bureau."

Download full testimony of Deputy Commissioner Raj

April 5, 2022

Before the Committee on Civil and Human Rights

"The Commission is the local civil rights enforcement agency that implements the New York City Human Rights Law, one of the broadest and most protective anti-discrimination and anti-harassment laws in the country, with 27 protected categories, and which covers housing, employment, and public accommodations. By statute, the Commission has two main functions. First, the Commission’s Law Enforcement Bureau enforces the City Human Rights Law ... Second, through the Community Relations Bureau, the Commission provides workshops and trainings on New Yorkers’ rights and the obligations of businesses, employers, and housing providers."

"The attorneys in the Law Enforcement Bureau evaluate and investigate allegations of
discrimination brought to the Commission by members of the public and utilize the agency’s
investigatory and prosecutorial powers to root out pattern-or-practice or other forms of
discrimination through Commission-initiated investigations. LEB and its specialized units, the
Early Intervention Unit, Source of Income Unit, and Gender-Based Harassment Unit, offer the
option of resolving claims in lieu of filing a complaint, leading to a quicker resolution."

Download full testimony of Deputy Commissioner Kamuf Ward

Download full testimony of Deputy Commissioner Raj

March 16, 2022

Before the Committee on Civil and Human Rights

"So far in Fiscal Year (FY) 22, the Human Rights Law has been amended twice: to add employment protections for domestic workers and to promote salary transparency in job postings. That is in addition to the 36 amendments to the Human Rights Law that the Council passed between 2015 and 2021. Today, the Law includes prohibitions on criminal history discrimination in employment, protections for survivors of gender-based violence in housing and employment, and prohibitions on source of income discrimination. Our law also prohibits retaliation against individuals who seek to oppose discrimination, file a discrimination complaint, or participate in a related investigation."

Download full testimony of Commissioner and Chair Palma