The mayor of New York, Eric Adams, reported this Monday that Annabel Palma will continue to head the Human Rights Commission of this city, a position she has held since October 2021.
Palma, who was a city councilor from 2004 to 2017 and a former health union organizer, was appointed to head the commission by former mayor Bill de Blasio.
“Under his leadership, the Commission has expanded protections to include domestic workers and more pay transparency guarantees, and developed new training to combat anti-Semitism in the city,” Adams said in a statement.
“The work he has done at the Human Rights Commission speaks to the commitment and dedication he has to the well-being of all New Yorkers,” he said.
Palma, of Puerto Rican origin, said for her part that it is “a privilege” to continue serving New Yorkers and recalled that she has experienced discrimination and harassment.
“I have witnessed its impacts on my community and have dedicated my career to fostering change, so I take my responsibility to protect New Yorkers very seriously,” he said.
“While New York City has one of the most comprehensive human rights laws in the country, there is always more work to be done to make human rights a reality, and we stand ready to collaborate with all stakeholders to meet this challenge,” held.
After completing her term as a council member, Palma was appointed by de Blasio as Deputy Commissioner for Strategic Initiatives in the Department of Social Services.
They highlight the trajectory of the official
Elected officials applauded Palma’s ratification and highlighted her track record, highlighting her commitment and dedication to fighting for a diverse and fair city for all New Yorkers.
“She has a proven track record in many fields and, having personally worked with her on the New York City Council, I know she is the ideal voice to lead the New York City Commission on Human Rights,” said the Chairman. of the Borough of Manhattan, Mark Levine. “She will continue to work tirelessly for our most vulnerable communities and she will ensure that all New Yorkers are aware of and protected by the city’s human rights law.”
Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson recalled that during her time as a commissioner under Mayor Bill de Blasio’s administration, Palma fought for the rights of all New Yorkers and advocated for diversity and inclusion.
“I know that under Mayor Adams’ leadership, she will continue to fight for historically underserved communities throughout our city.”
For his part, State Assemblyman Kenny Burgos indicated that he trusted Palma’s commitment to guarantee “the civil and human rights of all New Yorkers, regardless of gender, creed, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic status.”
Representatives of community organizations also praised the work of the Commissioner.
Marrisa Senteno, director of the National Domestic Workers Alliance in New York, said that Palma has been a great ally in the fight for the rights of domestic workers.
“The collaborative efforts we have seen in education, outreach and resources for some of the most marginalized workers show CCHR’s long-standing commitment to human rights,” Senteno said. “The most recent enactment of Local Law 88 of 2021, in which domestic workers, for the first time in New York City history, finally have the full weight of human rights protections in place work, it is a monumental achievement for Commissioner Palma and the city”.
Glennda Testone, executive director of The LGBT Community Center, said many of the communities represented at The Center rely on the hard-earned protections guaranteed by the city’s human rights law and the work of the Human Rights Commission.
“We look forward to continuing our work with Commissioner Palma to support the work of this important agency and ensure that all New Yorkers, including all LGBTQ people, can live and thrive in our city,” Testone said.
Monsignor Kevin Sullivan, executive director of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York, considered that the commissioner’s sensitivity, compassion and dedication “are needed even more today to fairly balance the complex human rights demands that the vibrant and diverse city faces.” of New York faces on a daily basis.”
Commissioner Palma has a long history in politics. In 2003 she was elected to the New York City Council and dedicated her career to giving her community the voice they needed to fight for quality education, safer schools, good paying jobs, affordable housing, a cleaner environment and a increased access to health care. She represented District 18 as a councilwoman for 14 years.
In 2018, Palma was appointed deputy commissioner for strategic initiatives at the New York City Department of Social Services and in 2020, when dealing with the impact of COVID-19, she joined the NYC Test + Trace Corps program to address the devastation that COVID-19 was causing in New York City.
with EFE
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