To: Albemarle County, Board of Supervisors, Board of Supervisors
Protect human rights for a 'world-class' community
The City of Charlottesville has undertaken a study of human rights protection needs within City limits. A study task force identified need for stronger local human rights protections than currently are available. The City is surrounded by Albemarle County in inextricable proximity. Both City and County share Virginia's problematic history of racial prejudice and discrimination, gender discrimination and violence, abuse of persons with mental illness and developmental disorders, and other violations of human rights, that have improved but have not been erased, and for which active local responses are required. Albemarle County Board of Supervisors should undertake review of human rights concerns and human rights protections equivalent in seriousness to the effort of the City. We ask Albemarle County Board of Supervisors to do this, to help ensure that our communities are truly 'world-class' places to live, work, study, and visit. Thank you.
Why is this important?
City of Charlottesville has undertaken a study of human rights protection needs within City limits. Workplace and housing related discrimination have been among the greatest areas of concern. Other violations of human rights have been discussed. More about the City's study process may be found here: http://www.charlottesville.org/index.aspx?page=3223
Human rights concerns are not isolated within City limits. For example, most employment, most housing, and most health services in the area are located in Albemarle County, not in City of Charlottesville; and much or most UVA operations are located in Albemarle County not in the City's jurisdictional limits.
Human rights concerns do not and can not stop at City limits in a community that includes the City, the County, and the University so closely associated. Virginia's problematic history of de jure racial discrimination and violence, gender discrimination and violence, abuse or persons with mental illness and developmental disorders, confiscation of Native Virginians' homelands and livelihoods, and other violations of human rights is our common history. And, in the 21st century new concerns for human rights are rising among immigrant and undocumented individuals and families, lgbt individuals and families, persons with HIV and their caregivers, persons with dementia, and others. Only active effort - not denial or neglect of human rights protections - can overcome this problematic history, and guarantee that our communities are open to the world as 'world-class' places to live, work, study, and visit in the 21st century.
Concern for human rights protections should not stop at City limits. Albemarle County should demonstrate its commitment to achieving effective protection of human rights in the County. Its a 'world-class' thing to do! Thank you.
Human rights concerns are not isolated within City limits. For example, most employment, most housing, and most health services in the area are located in Albemarle County, not in City of Charlottesville; and much or most UVA operations are located in Albemarle County not in the City's jurisdictional limits.
Human rights concerns do not and can not stop at City limits in a community that includes the City, the County, and the University so closely associated. Virginia's problematic history of de jure racial discrimination and violence, gender discrimination and violence, abuse or persons with mental illness and developmental disorders, confiscation of Native Virginians' homelands and livelihoods, and other violations of human rights is our common history. And, in the 21st century new concerns for human rights are rising among immigrant and undocumented individuals and families, lgbt individuals and families, persons with HIV and their caregivers, persons with dementia, and others. Only active effort - not denial or neglect of human rights protections - can overcome this problematic history, and guarantee that our communities are open to the world as 'world-class' places to live, work, study, and visit in the 21st century.
Concern for human rights protections should not stop at City limits. Albemarle County should demonstrate its commitment to achieving effective protection of human rights in the County. Its a 'world-class' thing to do! Thank you.