About Us

Sonoma County CHR

Mission Statement and What We Do

The primary purpose of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) is to promote better human relations among all people in Sonoma County through education, advocacy, and by initiating action that fosters the recognition of, and appreciation for, the diversity of our community.

Role of the Commission

The role of the County of Sonoma Commission on Human Rights is to provide leadership, guidance, and assistance in assuring that all members of our community — especially those among us who are marginalized or disadvantaged — enjoy the full range of human rights to which every person is entitled. The actions that the Commission will undertake in fulfilling its mission will include (but not be limited to):

Creating awareness of human rights issues faced by members of our community – working in partnership with community organizations and County agencies – through media campaigns, educational programs and training;
Advocating for policy changes necessary to better protect human rights at the local, state, and federal levels by investigating issues raised by our community, commenting on (and, where appropriate, drafting) policies for consideration by lawmakers and/or regulatory bodies, and regularly reporting to the Board of Supervisors on the state of human rights in the County. Responding to, and advancing concerns raised by members of our community by making referrals to appropriate support resources, investigating the extent to which individual complaints reflect a broader human rights issues in the County, and bringing attention to human rights issues of concern to County residents.Key to the success of the Commission in successfully achieving its mission will be the development of consistent and credible working relationships with key members of the community, including policy makers, policy enforcement, the media, community organizations, and the general public.