How are human rights enforced?

In Washington, human rights are enforced by local, state, and federal laws. The most significant of these laws is the Washington State Human Rights Commission. This commission, created in 1949, is responsible for investigating complaints of discrimination, educating citizens on the protection of civil rights, and enforcing those rights. The commission is directed to develop and enforce regulations to combat discrimination in areas such as housing, public accommodation, employment, education, and health care. To do this, they receive and investigate complaints of discrimination, conduct hearings, and issue orders when necessary. If the Commission finds that a violation has occurred, they can require the respondent to make changes and can award damages to the complainant. The Washington State Legislature also supports human rights enforcement. They have enacted laws, such as the Prevention of Discrimination Act, to protect citizens from discrimination on the basis of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, and other protected classes. The legislature also provides funds to the Human Rights Commission, which gives them more resources to investigate and enforce the law. Finally, the federal government is also involved in human rights enforcement in Washington. The Department of Justice (DOJ) is responsible for enforcing federal civil rights laws, such as Title VII and Title IX. While the DOJ primarily focuses on criminal violations of civil rights, they may also investigate complaints of civil rights violations. The DOJ can also sue individuals and organizations who violate the civil rights of others.

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