To say we are experiencing hard times — economic hard times — is to state the obvious. What probably is not as obvious is the fact that human and civil rights generally experience equally hard times in depressed economic conditions. Domestic violence increases, equal opportunity for minority, racial and immigrant groups comes under more intense attack, religious differences contribute to more personal conflict and other issues related to human and civil rights become obvious targets.

Residents of Kitsap County are fortunate to have an official agency to act as an advocate for human and civil rights and to monitor the possibility of their violation: the Kitsap County Council for Human Rights. Established in 1989, the Council’s mission is to advise county government and Kitsap County residents on “issues related to discrimination” in a variety of categories of human rights and “to promote equitable treatment of all citizens.” In good times and bad.

The council consists of 12 unpaid volunteers appointed to three-year terms, four each by the three Kitsap County commissioners. While the county council and the Washington State Human Rights Commission share a similar mission, the commission is a state agency which “enforces the law against discrimination” (RCW 49.60). The county council’s chief mission is advisory, accomplished through the sponsorship of an annual youth rally, an annual public conference, a variety of informative public forums and similar outreach activities.

Everyone is welcome to attend the council’s regular monthly meetings, speak to their concerns and contribute ideas related to the promotion of human and civil rights. The council meets at 6 p.m. the second Tuesday of every month in the training room, lower level of the Eagle’s Nest, at 1195 Fairgrounds Road. Current council membership and details of monthly meetings, mission, purposes and activities may be found on the council’s Web site at www.kitsapgov.com/hr/wsolympic/humanrights/hrcboard.htm.

KITSAP COUNTY COUNCIL FOR HUMAN RIGHTS

Bob Dietz, member emeritus; Carol Etgen; Thomas Fairchild; Nancy Gray; Tracy Harris, member emeritus; Riki Jacobs; Jeanette Leino; Imelda Moore; Denita Hardin Patton; and Rob Purser