Events
NILGA Conference -
Details
WOMEN IN LOCAL COUNCILS – MAKING A DIFFERENCE
NILGA Conference 2007
Purpose and Outcomes
1. Purpose
The active and full participation of women in political and public life is vital to ensure that local government fully takes into account the views of those it represents in decision making processes.
In this session delegates will have an opportunity to discuss:
- The challenges and lessons learnt by women participating in politics and public life
- Current models of good practice, and
- What we can do to encourage women to participate in political life
Local government cannot afford to be gender-blind. We must strive towards equality and representation of women and men in decision making processes and in the opportunities to achieve these goals.
The development of Gender Action Plans by the district councils has created a framework to consider the key issues in respect of gender equality.
This session will reflect on the progress of this innovative approach to address a common change problem across local government in Northern Ireland.
2. Outcomes
Agreed needs:
NI Assembly: Training women for the election campaign for the new Assembly on 7 March 2007 and for governing Northern Ireland in the Assembly.
The Northern Ireland Assembly will be reconstituted with the imminent agreement of all parties to the St Andrew’s Agreement, the last piece in the political agreement needed to push the peace process forward.
There is a need for Election Training for the women in the Assembly. If possible this would comprise 1-2 days’ training for each party plus a number of cross-party sessions. Focus on new women running for the Assembly, combined with fostering mentoring of new candidates by experienced women.
Local Government: Influencing current local government reform and reorganisation; training women to win selection and election in the Council election in 2008; and preparing women to exercise Councils’ new policy and governance responsibilities.
New local Councils will be formed in 2008/09. The number of Councils, and politicians, will be reduced. Council powers will be substantially increased. From 2008/09 Councillors will be politically much more important than ever before. There will be strong competition for fewer electoral positions, and Councillors will be expected to exercise more extensive policy and governance responsibilities.
Strategic gender planning in Political Parties: Supporting political parties to develop Gender Action Plans and adopt positive action measures that will select more women candidates and position more women in party office; and supporting local Councils to develop opportunities for women Councillors in all parties.
Women Officers: Need to ensure that ALL women feel that the Initiative has something for them and that it is not aimed solely at senior officers.
