Note of Learning Exchange, prior to full WNC Commissioners' meeting
22 May 2007
Those present:
Joyce Gould (JG)
Interim Chair
Anita Gale (AG)
Commissioner
Brenda King (BK)
Commissioner
Sabin Malik (SM)
Commissioner
Susan Green (SG)
Acting Director, WNC
Leon Bond (LB)
Business Manager, WNC
Apologies:
Ranjana Bell
Commissioner
Liz Kelly
Commissioner
Bronagh Hinds
Commissioner
Also present
Anna Trojanoska
Visiting intern, WNC
Welcome
1.
JG welcomed Commissioners as Interim Chair, pointing out that she had also been a Commissioner previously. She explained that she wanted to look to the future and the work that the WNC could carry out, while being aware of the ongoing review.
Previous work
2.
BK and AG as continuing Commissioners, were asked to give their thoughts on the WNC and it's current work. Together with suggestions for the future.
3.
AG explained her work in Wales, building up the numbers of partners. However she felt slightly frustrated by the resources available, compared with the work she felt could be achieved. She explained how she met with the Welsh Assembly's Equalities Minister annually and facilitated Seminars with local groups. She compared this situation with that of Scotland, where WNC had no Commissioner with specific responsibility.
4.
AG also raised the issue of how WNC would engage with the CEHR and Government, she suggested inviting the Minister for Women to meetings.
5.
BK believed that good work had been carried out so far, but that outreach needed to be prioritized, with an emphasis on the devolved nations and English regions.
6.
JG then recapped on the issues raised,
i)
Build up Partner numbers overall, but with special emphasis on the local & regional branches of existing Partners.
ii)
How should WNC be relating to it's Partner network?
iii)
SG then gave a short report on the approaches taken previously, identifying the weaknesses and gaps in coverage and targeting work accordingly.
7.
A general discussion took place, resulting in suggestions that WNC booked rooms in an area, asking local groups or organizations to donate refreshments. Then inviting a wide range of stakeholders to attend. AG felt that the Board should not be meeting in the regions as a rule, BK wondered if the board could meet regionally in the PM, to take up issues raised at seminars held in the AM.
8.
SM felt that there were advantages to this, given the difficulties faced by Women with families, or with limited means. This would reduce travel times and allow them to play a full part.
9.
JG summed up with a suggestion that WNC looked at targeted seminars, on specific issues. Depending on the subject, these could be regional or as a `one-off', she pointed out the many advantages to face to face meetings over even excellent email or printed media.
Relations with stakeholders
10.
The discussion then moved on to how WNC relates to the WEU, CEHR, Government and Ministers.
11.
JG felt that direct contact was very important when dealing with Ministers. If the likely reshuffle resulted in a new Minister for Women (MfW), then WNC needed to arrange a meeting asap with the new MfW. WNC should look to build a working relationship with them and involve them at an early stage in events that WNC arranged.
12.
In terms of the CEHR, JG felt that WNC needed to establish the parameters of it's relationship with it, especially in terms of the new Gender Equality Duty (GED), it should feed into, and be aware of the CEHR's future plans and priorities. WNC should aim to have a voice within it, and also be able to make timely comments on it's proposals.
Overview of WNC work
13.
JG then moved the discussion on to the general thrust of the WNC's work.
14.
SM asked how WNC fed into the Women and Work Commission, SG explained that it had given evidence, but that it had also been involved via Margaret Prosser, who had been Chair of both Commissions.
15.
JG thought that WNC should look to be involved more in the Green/White papers for future legislation, this had been raised as part of the 1998 review.
16.
AG felt that WNC's agenda was limited by it's financial status and it's available resources. While it had a good profile for it's work on international issues, the WNC needed to keep a focus on the National agenda, given it's remit. It's profile should be more like organizations such as the Fawcett Society, who had a good media presence, due to the documents it produced.
17.
JG pointed out that the Fawcett Society could speak with a single voice, but that WNC had to represent the many strands of thinking that it's Partners expressed. WNC should make more of it's representative nature, giving it's voice more weight.
18.
SM felt that WNC needed to reach out to grassroots Women, alongside Government. It should have a communications strategy that included redesigning it's slightly dated website.
19.
JG said she would raise the issue of finance and resources with any new MfW. WNC needed a business plan and proposals for a costed staffing structure to meet it's agreed programme of work. This to be done before any meeting with MfW.
20.
Commissioners then discussed the reasons for the lack of a Scottish Commissioner, it was suggested that all Scottish parliament members should be emailed details of vacancies with a request to pass on to interested parties.
All-Partners conference
21.
There was a extensive discussion on the merits of the All-Partners conference, both in terms of the outcome from the December 2006 conference and any improvements that could be made for the next. JG felt WNC should look to have an annual conference, it was felt that lessons could be drawn from the CRE conference, which was well received, with a good turnout of invitees. Commissioners felt that an early December or late November date would be better, possibly outside London. They felt that Partners should be consulted over the date, location and range of subjects & speakers invited. BK felt that the `corporate' image that the T-Shirts and welcome desk gave, made a good impression on Partners.
International
22.
JG then moved the discussion on to International issues and CEDAW. There was a need to keep these issues visible, keeping in contact with NGO's from CSW was vital to keep the contact going. SM raised the possibility of using the previous work carried out by the WNC, in partnership with a sister organization in Pakistan to produce an `International Toolkit' to spread good practice. JG felt that links needed to be built with international organizations, within the limits that WNC finances allowed. BK explained her work in the Caribbean and Latin America and the issues she had raised in forums there.
23.
JG pointed out that the flow of ideas and good practice was two way, and that she had personally had her assumptions challenged by her contacts internationally.
24.
SG then explained the CEDAW process and how WNC co-coordinated the shadow UK report. This had now gone out to several times to Partners in draft form, some Commissioners were unsure if they had received these.
Priorities
25.
There was a short discussion on the priorities for the WNC, as expressed by Partners at the 2006 conference. One item was `Women in Public Life', where work had been done previously.
26.
AG felt that the Public Appointments forms and adverts were not accessible to many Women and that the WNC should consider this as a future item to look at.
27.
JG suggested `Women and Health' as an issue.
28.
SM explained that her work in West London had shown that socially deprived white Women were a major issue, together with issues raised within the LGBT communities. Both health and education were seen as key areas that needed to be considered.
29.
Violence against Women (VAW), Iraqi Womens Internship Programme and the WNC `Migration and Asylum' groups were also discussed.
30.
The need to look beyond the existing contacts was raised, especially within groups such as the BME community.
31.
After a request for any issues that needed to be raised prior to the full board meeting the next day, JG closed the meeting at 18:00.
