1995~2004年爲「聯合國人權教育的十年 (Decade of Human Rights Education)」，曾獲「聯合國人權獎」的「全民人權教育協會 (PDHRE)」獲得聯合國正式撥款，在世界各國推行「人權城市」方案。就做爲「人權城市」的地方自治體而言，人權委員會的設置極爲重要，對於落實人權保障的施政理念甚有裨益。然而，關於人權委員會此類人權機構的設置與職權，必須考慮人權機構之職權應擴展至什麼範圍？人權機構應有什麼組織架構？人權機構應擁有何種權力？人權機構是否應處理個人的人權投訴問題？人權機構如何同時扮演政府監督者與政府諮商者的角色？政府行政部門與立法部門的適當關係爲何？人權機構如何與非政府人權組織合作？法院對於人權委員會的活動應採取何種態度？如何確保人權機構得到適當及持續之經費？人權機構能達到什麼程度的自主性？等問題。因而，本文希冀經由對紐約市人權委員會 (New York City Commission on Human Rights, 以下簡稱人權委員會) 之探究，提供台灣建立人權城市之參考。

In the Decade of Human Rights Education (1995~2004), the Peoples Decade of Human Rights Education (PDHRE), which had rewarded UN Human Rights award, allotted United Nations' fund to follow out "Human Right Cities" around the world. For the local autonomy as "Human Right City," it is significant to set up human right committee and it is also benefit for practicing the concept of human right protection. Nevertheless, we should take the below into account when setting up such sort of human right organization: How much power should human right organization have? What kind of organization should human right organization have? What kind of power should human right organization have? Should human right organizations deal with personal complaints? How human right organizations play the role of supervisor and consultant to government? What is the proper relation between executive department and legislative department? How to cooperate with non-government organization? What position should court take? How to ensure human right organization obtains appropriate and sustain funds? And what level of autonomy could human right organization achieve? For these reasons, the paper researches New York City Commission on Human Rights for reference to building human cities in Taiwan.