Workshop Responses

Responses to workshop questions

Workshop participants were asked to comment on the gender equality principles and vision and to discuss opportunities for further involvement in the strategy. Please click on a workshop to view responses:

Age Concern Northern Ireland
Ballybeen Women's Centre
Ballynafeigh Community Development Association (BCDA)
Carrickfergus community groups
Dungiven catchment area women's groups
Falls Women's Centre
Family Planning Association - Londonderry/Derry
Family Planning Association - Coleraine
Fermanagh Women's Network
Footprints Women's Centre
Forkhill Women's Centre
Greenway Women's Centre
INGAGE
Lenadoon women's groups - workshop 1
Lenadoon women's groups - workshop 2
Lesbian Advocacy Services Initiative (LASI) Belfast
Lesbian Advocacy Services Initiate (LASI) Derry/Londonderry
Limavady Community Development Initiative
Lisburn YMCA
Men's Project
Mid-Ulster Network
Northern Ireland Women's Aid
Rural Women's Think Tank
Shankill Women's Centre
Survivors of Trauma
University of Ulster - staff workshop
Waterside Women's Centre
Windsor Women's Centre
Women's Tec
Youth Action Northern Ireland

Age Concern Northern Ireland

Principles: "They fail to recognise that many older men and women have, at best, very limited opportunities to make choices that might improve their lot."

Vision: "While it was accepted that vision statements can be couched in aspirational language, there was concern that the present document does not map out how this will be translated into actions that will make a real difference to the lives of (in our case) older women and men."

Further involvement: "Older people should be represented on any body formed to operate the strategy."

Ballybeen Women's Centre

Principles: "It would be excellent if the principles were acted upon."

Vision: "Shows no actual commitment."

Further involvement: "We would like to be kept informed."

Ballynafeigh Community Development Association (BCDA)

Principles: "Sound good on paper, but totally ambiguous."

Vision: "What about children and young people? They need to be mentioned too."

Further involvement: "Depending on whether views would be taken seriously, we would be glad to participate in further discussions."

Carrickfergus community groups

Principles: "Government should put its money where its mouth is."

Vision: "There should be recognition that women are on an unequal footing."

Further involvement: "We would like to see and consult on the new draft."

Dungiven catchment area women's groups

Principles: "They are useful as part of the consultation process, but only if Government takes the responses seriously and acts on them."

Vision: "Too general."

Further involvement: "We would like some follow-up and feedback."

Falls Women's Centre

Principles: "They show that there's not a full commitment to changing the system."

Vision: "The language is weak and without commitment. It's meaningless."

Further involvement: "We didn't co-operate with the questions as we're unhappy with the basic premise of the document - we want a women's strategy."

Family Planning Association - Derry/Londonderry

Principles: "They should include some desire to implement a change."

Vision: "Suggested reworded version might read: "A society in which individuals are respected and valued regardless of circumstances."

Further involvement: "An advisory group, nominated by interested sectors, should be formed to advise and report on the progress of the action areas."

Family Planning Association - Coleraine workshop

Principles: "Good in theory, but how are they going to do it?"

Vision: "Unrealistic and idealistic."

Further involvement: "We'd like to be involved as we live in the real world - it shouldn't just be academics."

Fermanagh Women's Network

Principles: "The document is trying to be all things to all people."

Vision: "Is this vision the best it can be?"

Footprints Women's Centre

Principles: "We hope that there'll be consequences for public bodies if they don't comply with them."

Vision: "The language doesn't ensure the same results for men and women - statistics show that opportunity is not enough."

Further involvement: "We'd like a follow-up meeting, and to see other opinions - especially men's - on the website."

Forkhill Women's Centre

Principles: "Can we have them in plain English, please?"

Visions: "Women have more obstacles to overcome to achieve this vision."

Further involvement: "We would like to be consulted again on the final document."

Greenway Women's Centre

Principles: "Nothing will be put in place to support them."

Vision: "Resources and effort need to be put into realising the vision."

Further involvement: "Each group should be revisited to give a further response to any action plan."

INGAGE, Everglades Hotel

Principles: "They're not very specific or measurable."

Vision: "The equality of outcome should be the same as the equality of opportunity."

Lenadoon women's groups - workshop 1

Principles: "How will they be filtered down to men and women on the street?"

Vision: "We agree with it, but we cannot see it really changing the issues for people in their everyday working lives and in their roles as parents and carers."

Further participation: "We would like to be given the opportunity to discuss any new proposal and have your views taken on board."

Lenadoon women's groups - workshop 2

Principles: "Who will enforce and implement them?"

Vision: "We're happy that it covers everything from employment to public safety."

Further involvement: "We'd be willing to attend further meetings, and we'd like to see other responses."

Lesbian Advocacy Services Initiative, (LASI), Belfast

Principles: "They should have more examples of multiple identity - for example, lesbians or Jews."

Vision: "Suggested rewording; that this vision aims to break down gender inequalities for all women and men, regardless of their ethnicity, sexuality, etc."

Further involvement: "Focus groups are better for consultation purposes, rather than organising consultations and hoping that people will just show up."

Lesbian Advocacy Services Initiative, (LASI), Derry/Londonderry

Principles: "Wary about promoting a partnership approach unless it will be a genuine partnership. Voluntary members are often brought in without being paid."

Vision: "The vision does not reach out to people or feel inclusive. It should refer to more section 75 groups."

Further involvement: "Women's groups must work with lesbian, gay and bisexual organisations to ensure that lesbian and bisexual women continue to be included."

Limavady Community Development Initiative

Principles: "It needs more than just words."

Vision: "It'll never happen."

Further involvement: "We would like to know that what we said was listened to."

Lisburn YMCA

Principles: "They make sense and trying to be equal by taking into account different needs."

Vision: "It's a good start, but could be simplified."

Further participation: "We'd like another conference or debate."

Men's Project

Principles: "Fine, but we need resources to carry them forward. There must be more support for men's groups to create a level playing field."

Vision: "It needs to be encompassing."

Further participation: "Youth services should be part of a multi-agency approach."

Mid-Ulster Network

Principles: "Far too general and not very measurable."

Vision: "It doesn't say how we will know when this vision has been realised."

NI Women's Aid

Principles: "We found the language confusing and unclear"

Vision: "Language is soft and woolly."

Further participation: "The group would like to see the proposed action plan and to have the chance to hold a further consultation."

Rural Women's Think Tank

Principles: "Budgeting priorities seem to be bottom of the list."

Vision: "Men and women are not on an equal footing, and this imbalance must be addressed."

Further participation: "Group would like to be aware of key issues being taken on board."

Shankill Women's Centre

Principles: "They need to be more socially inclusive, e.g, areas, old people"

Vision: "Sounds good, but how are you going to achieve it?"

Further involvement: "We're keen to be involved in the next stage and would like a chance to comment further."

Survivors of Trauma

Principles: "Language of principles is off-putting and not strong enough."

Vision: "It doesn't seem sure about how the vision will implemented"

Further participation: "We would like a follow-up meeting with other groups to check on the progress of the strategy"

University of Ulster - staff workshop

Principles: "Resources aren't being put through, so they're promising something that they can't deliver"

Vision: "They give the impression that women and men are on an equal playing field - women are not being treated as equals."

Waterside Women's Centre

Principles: "Is there room here for funding to be provided? What is needed is practical support."

Vision: "It's something to strive towards, but I don't think I'll live long enough to see it become a reality"

Further involvement: "Please keep us informed of the outcomes of the consultation."

Windsor Women's Centre

Principles: "Parenting is not the only multi-identity of men and women."

Vision: "We want a women's strategy that includes older women, ethnic minorities etc, not a gender strategy."

Further involvement: "We're happy for the WRDA and WSN to be resourced in forwarding this."

Women's Tec

Principles: "They're not proactive."

Vision: "It's very limited; what about other dimensions to people's lives, such as disability, race, etc?"

Further involvement: "Resource the women's sector to enable women to be involved in consultations"

Youth Action Northern Ireland

Principles: "Language not young-people-friendly"

Vision: "Over-worded"

Further involvement: "Young person's forum should be set up with young people from all backgrounds"