Office of Civil Rights

The Secretary of State is responsible for ensuring equal opportunity in the Department. The Secretary has delegated this authority to the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (S/OCR), Barbara Pope, who also serves as Director of Equal Employment Opportunity.  Operational responsibility for compliance with S/OCR policies and programs lies with the Department's line managers. 

S/OCR advises and assists the Secretary of State and other principal officers of the Department in carrying out their responsibilities relative to Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and other laws, executive orders, and regulatory guidelines affecting affirmative employment and non-discrimination in the Federal sector.  S/OCR is responsible for establishing and maintaining a continuing affirmative program designed to promote equal opportunity in every aspect of the Department's personnel policies and practices.  The major functions of S/OCR are:

Affirmative Employment/Outreach - Affirmative Employment Plan, Annual EEO Award, special emphasis and commemorative programs, monitoring and analysis of Department personnel policies, practices, and workforce profiles.

Complaints Management - informal processing of allegations of discrimination through EEO counseling or ADR (EEO), investigations, Final Agency Decisions, appeals compliance, and case statistical analysis and reporting.

Any employee or job applicant who believes that he/she has been discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age or disability must contact an EEO counselor within 45 calendar days of the alleged discriminatory act. 

To obtain information on Sections 501 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 or to file a complaint, please contact us at:

Office of Civil Rights
S/OCR, Room 4216
Department of State
Washington, DC  20520

email: socrweb@state.gov
tel:  (202) 647-9294
   or (202) 647-9295
fax: (202) 647-4969