TRENTON
– Attorney General Peter C. Harvey
announced today that the Director of the
New Jersey Division on Civil Rights, J.
Frank Vespa-Papaleo, has been elected
to the board of directors of the International
Association of Official Human Rights Agencies.
A non-profit organization based in Washington,
D.C., the International Association of
Human Rights Agencies is made up of agencies
responsible for enforcing a variety of
human and civil rights laws in their respective
national, provincial, state, county, and
municipal jurisdictions.
The International Association is dedicated
to promoting civil and human rights around
the world, including the United States
and Canada. It also works closely with
the United States Equal Employment Opportunity
Commission, the U.S. Department of Housing
and Urban Development, the United States
Department of Justice, and the U.S. Congress.
It’s website is located at www.sso.org/iaohra.
Attorney General Harvey noted that Director
Vespa-Papaleo was elected on August 17th
to serve a two-year term on the International
Association’s Board of Directors
-- as one of four board “members
at large” – during the Association’s
annual conference held in Florida.
“IAOHRA is an important forum for
law enforcement agencies – agencies
who are fighting similar fights in their
respective jurisdictions -- to come together,
compare notes, and inspire each other
to carry on the fight,” said Harvey.
“Having Director Vespa-Papaleo serve
as a member of the board will ensure that
New Jersey’s anti-discrimination
statutes help inform and guide civil rights
agencies around the globe.”
“New
Jersey was one of the original founders
of the International Association of Human
Rights Agencies in 1949, and has been
a member for decades. I am proud to follow
in that tradition,” said Director
Vespa-Papaleo. “I am excited to
be able to serve the Association as a
board member, and further raise the visibility
of all of our efforts here in New Jersey.”
Vespa-Papaleo added that New Jersey has
one of the most progressive, comprehensive
civil rights statutes in the United States,
“which means it is one of the most
progressive laws in the world. I will
be glad to pass on the lessons of our
experiences here for the benefit of all
IAOHRA members. One reason I believe our
law is so progressive is because enforcement
of our anti-discrimination law falls within
the Division on Civil Rights, part of
the Office of Attorney General. Ours is
one of very few that is part of a State
Attorney General’s Office.”
Jim Stowe, President of IAOHRA and Director
of the Columbus Community Relations Commission
in Ohio, said the Association “is
excited to have Director Vespa-Papaleo
join the Board of Directors.”
”I
know he is passionate about issues pertaining
to new immigrants, children who are victims
of bias-based bullying and harassment,
and persons with disabilities,”
said Stowe. “We welcome Frank’s
dedication on civil and human rights issues.”
The newly-elected IAOHRA Board is comprised
of President James Stowe (Executive Director
of the Columbus, Ohio Community Relations
Commission), 1st Vice President Vanessa
Ruiz Boiling (Director of the Fort Worth
Community Relations Department), 2nd Vice
President Rocco Claps (Director of the
Illinois Department of Human Rights),
Secretary Paula Haley (Executive Director
of the Alaska Human Rights Commission),
Treasurer Homer Floyd (Executive Director
of the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission),
Immediate Past President Beverly Watts
(Director of the National Fair Housing
Training Academy), Members-At-Large Brian
Wright (Director of the Schenectady County
Commission on Human Rights), Gail Williams
(Administrator of the Hillsborough County
Office of Equal Opportunity), and Gerald
Foday (Director of the Forth Wayne, Indiana
Human Relations Commission), and Frank
Vespa-Papaleo (Director of the NJ Division
on Civil Rights), and Regional Representatives
Michael Cash (Executive Director of the
Fairfax County Human Rights Commission),
Germaine Covington (Director of the Seattle
Office for Civil Rights), Jennifer Vidis
(Director of the Cook County Human Relations
Commission), and Keith Norton (Chief Commissioner
of the Ontario Human Rights Commission).
The Division on Civil Rights is responsible
for enforcing the New Jersey Law Against
Discrimination and the New Jersey Family
Leave Act. Specifically, the Division
investigates allegations of discrimination
in employment, housing, places of public
accommodation and credit. Its offices
are located in Atlantic City, Camden,
Jersey City, Newark, Paterson, and Trenton.
Further information about the Division
is available on its Web site www.NJCivilrights.org
.
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