Promoting mutual understanding and safeguarding the rights of all citizens.
The nine member Human Rights Advisory Commission was created by ordinance to the Beaverton City Code on April 12, 1993.
Commission members were appointed during the month of August 1993 and the first meeting was held on October 4th 1993. At that meeting the commission began the work of developing the bylaws which would govern its operations. This work was completed in December and the City Council approved the bylaws on January 10, 1994.
The general purpose of the commission is to help the citizens and government in the City of Beaverton to achieve the goal of embracing and celebrating diversity, eliminating bigotry, and enhancing a sense of community. If a citizen would like to file a complaint about their rights being violated, there is a complaint process and form that can be used:
In early 2004 the commission started work on adding a civil rights ordinance to the Beaverton City Code and in November of 2004 the Beaverton City Council passed the Civil Rights Ordinance.
The Ordinance states:
It is the policy of the City of Beaverton to eliminate discrimination based on race, religion, color, sex, marital status, familial status, national origin, age, mental or physical disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and source of income. Such discrimination threatens not only the rights and privileges of Beaverton citizens, but menaces the institutions and foundation of our community. Furthermore, the Mayor and City Council find that discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity exists in the City of Beaverton and that state law does not clearly prohibit such discrimination. It is the intent of the Mayor and Council, in the exercise of their powers for the protection of the public health, safety, and general welfare and for the maintenance of peace and good government, that every individual shall have an equal opportunity to participate fully in the life of the city and that discriminatory barriers to equal participation in employment, housing, and public accommodation be removed.
The Commission continues to be involved in a number of annual events that promote diversity and basic human rights in the Beaverton community. The two largest of these events are the Annual City of Beaverton Diversity Award and the City of Beaverton Creative Expression Contest.
The Commission offers this opportunity to honor an individual, community organization, business organization, and/or non-profit group who has promoted appreciation for diversity, human rights, and cultural understanding in the City of Beaverton and our local community.
Citizens are encouraged to submit nominations to the City of Beaverton Human Rights Advisory Commission. For more information see Diversity Award or Diversity Award Nomination Form (PDF)
The 5th Annual Human Rights Creative Expression Contest is open to all Beaverton students, K-12. This is an opportunity for the youth of our community to share their understanding of the importance of acceptance in a creative manner—through written or spoken word, art, music, film or dance.
The contest runs from January to March, 2009. To submit entries and find additional information see Creative Expression Contest.
Meeting Schedule and Contact Information