A NEW CONSULTATION MODEL The consultation process enabled us get the message across to the government that we do valuable work. The government is on record as supporting improvement in the status of women. We tried to impress upon them that this commitment must be backed by real financial contribution. While we still have a lot of work ahead of us, we are encouraged that an on-going consultation process is likely. For the first time, the Secretary of State gave women's groups a grant and the responsibility for planning the national consultation. Women's groups had been very dissatisfied with the process and outcomes of previous consultations, for which agendas and participants had been determined by government officials.
This year, the Planning Committee and organizers sent agenda and questions to participants in advance. The three-day consultation opened with a plenary session to discuss strategy. Each participant chose to join a sub-group planning one of the three meetings. Sub-groups determined the objectives, content, tone, format and individual roles for the meeting. Plans brought back to the plenary for suggestions and approval. The Planning Committee met at the end of each day and over breakfast. Meals and coffee breaks were used for networking. Differences were talked through, in an atmosphere of trust, until consensus was reached. On the second day the meetings with representatives of the Women's Program and the Minister took place. Each was chaired by an anglophone and francophone representative from the women's groups. Strong, informed chairing ensured that all the pre-prepared questions were asked, and that government representatives were pressed for full answers. On the third day, the sub-groups evaluated the meetings and presented follow-up recommendations to the closing plenary, which also discussed and ratified the press release. |
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