Gender Action Implementation Group Meeting - Meeting Notes

Wednesday 29 September 2021

Attendees:
Karen Martin (Chairperson)
Maria Bannon
Harry Clarke
Louise Close
James Gilsenan
Kate McCullough
Liz Milligan
Sebastien Mingout
Richard Stewart

Apologies:
Raymond Russell

Update on QUB research project:

Group members were provided with an update on the QUB research project. Members were reminded of the background to the research and were informed that the research timeline had been delayed due to COVID-19. It was said that QUB had provided a collective summary of research, which would be circulated to the group following the meeting, with the final research expected in the coming weeks.

Action: A copy of QUB research summary to be circulated to the group for perusal after meeting.

Update on draft Transgender Policy:

The group was updated on progress made on the development on the draft Transgender Policy. It was said that the draft Policy and guidance were approved by SMG in June to allow for consultation. The draft Policy and guidance have been issued by the HR Office to TUS for consultation. HR will carry out the consultation with staff and the Equality and Good Relations Unit will carry out a targeted pre-consultation and further consultation with external groups. It is anticipated that the draft Policy and guidance would be issued to staff for consultation in the coming days.

It was advised that the visitor guidance part of the Transgender Policy will also go out to the section 75 consultee list for consultation.  Once the final draft Policy is agreed by SMG, general training will be sourced for Assembly Secretariat staff and specific training for outward facing staff.

It was said that the Engagement team could circulate the visitor section of the draft Policy to Assembly Connects contacts as part of the section 75 consultee list consultation. It was agreed that the visitor guidance section of the draft Policy would be issued to engagement for distribution to Assembly Connects contacts at this stage of consultation.

Gender Action Plan: development of next plan – next steps.

The group was informed that the current GAP comes to an end in 2023 and it is important, in 2022, to discuss what the next steps may be in either constructing a new plan, or further mainstreaming current and/or future planned actions.

The group discussed this and agreed to keep this as an action at each GAPIG meeting for further discussion.

It was raised whether it would be possible to provide online Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA) training (to include information on the process and terminology used) as this may be helpful for Clerking staff. It was added that the CAMS Office should also be contacted in this regard.

Action: To look into the availability of existing online EQIA training/information for placement on AssISt; to contact CAMS to see if this would be useful for staff.  

Update on actions from June 2021 GAP meeting:

The group was updated on progress made on the Gender Action Plan actions since the last 6 monthly gender monitoring report (April 2021). It was said that the next 6-monthly monitoring GAP update would be tabled at the October SMG meeting. Delays in certain areas were outlined, due staffing resources, for example, it was discussed that the development of the draft Menopause Policy would be delayed.

Action: Contact relevant staff to request a copy of the Women’s Caucus Group report.  

Diversity NI Award:

The group was informed that it was decided not to proceed with Diversity NI application.  This was due to a number of factors, including that the application criteria had changed.

Stonewall:

It was said that once the draft Transgender Policy was agreed, any use of the Stonewall index could be reviewed. It was said that the recently completed Assembly Secretariat section 75 survey, which had over a 60% return rate, had helped to address gaps in data.

AOB:

None

Date of next meeting: January 2022