The Barnstable County Human Rights Advisory Commission (BCHRAC) promotes equal opportunity in housing, employment, education, public accommodations, town and county services, insurance, banking, credit, and healthcare for all persons in Barnstable County regardless of race, color, religious creed, national origin, sex, age, ancestry, sexual or affection preference, marital, family or military status, source of income, neighborhood or disability.

The primary activities of the Human Rights Advisory Commission are:

  • To promote and protect the basic human rights of all persons in Barnstable County.
  • To enlist the cooperation and support of racial, religious, ethnic, civic, fraternal, benevolent, and private and public agencies in eliminating unlawful discrimination, and cultivating an atmosphere of mutual understanding of the county’s cultural and social diversity.
  • To promote community awareness and understanding of the county’s diverse cultures through education and community action.
  • To provide the public with a forum to identify and address human rights concerns within Barnstable County and, where possible, to assist in the resolution of complaints of human rights violations.

 


News

Weathering Many Storms, Kids Still Trying to Make World a Better Place

Written by Lawrence Brown | Special to the Times Lawrence Brown is a columnist for the Cape Cod Times. Email him at column response@ gmail.com. For over 20 years, teens from across the Cape have been meeting each fall and spring to discuss issues ranging from human rights to community service, and generally improving the environment of the […]

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Cape Cod Students Gather for Spring Human Rights Academy

April 17, 2024 (Barnstable, MA) – On Friday, April 12, approximately 60 students from middle and high schools across Cape Cod convened at the Sturgis High School’s 529 Main Street Community Center for the Spring Human Rights Academy. This semi-annual event, organized by the Barnstable County Human Rights Advisory Commission, has been a pivotal gathering for […]

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Watch the 2023 Barnstable County Human Rights Awards Ceremony

We invite you to click the link below and watch the recorded event from January 8, 2024, captured by Cape Media. This event brought together over 200 individuals to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, hosted by the Barnstable County Human Rights Advisory Commission. It was an opportunity […]

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Barnstable County Human Rights Advisory Commission’s Annual Human Rights Awards Celebration

Yesterday, over 200 individuals gathered at an event hosted by the Barnstable County Human Rights Advisory Commission to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The occasion also served as an opportunity to honor Cape Codders dedicated to preserving and protecting these rights. Additionally, awards were presented to acknowledge […]

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Postponement of Human Rights Celebration Due to Severe Weather 

   Due to severe weather conditions, the Barnstable County Human Rights Advisory Commission announces the postponement of our highly anticipated Human Rights Celebration scheduled for Monday, December 11th.   Emergency management advises that the timing of the storm and the likelihood of power outages require prudence. As a result, the celebration is being postponed until […]

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Barnstable County Human Rights Advisory Commission Announces Awardees for 2023 Annual Human Rights Awards Celebration

November 22, 2023 (Barnstable, MA) – The Barnstable County Human Rights Advisory Commission is pleased to announce the recipients of this year’s Annual Human Rights Awards celebration, which will take place on December 11, 2023, from 8:30 am to 10:30 am at the Hyport Conference Center, located at 35 Scudder Ave., Hyannis. The Rosenthal Community […]

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