Guidance on completing a ‘Proforma for Discussion Items’.

Since the last Council meeting, discussion has taken place with a number of member associations and the Executive Committee on the format and wording of the resolutions/debates which are to be presented to Council in 2002. The Proforma has been amended to provide more clarity on the nature of the statement, what it is used for and how it should be worded. The points in this paper are based on discussions with representatives of member associations and the meeting of the Executive Committee held in March 2001 in Harare, Zimbabwe.

All Member Associations are being asked to send in the Items they wish to discuss at the 2002 Council meeting. They are asked to provide as much detail as possible with regard to the nature and the aim of the final statement. We have therefore divided the outcomes of the statements into the following:

Type of document	Use
1. Position statement: Statement on what the ICM stands for - what its standard of thinking is, what the ICM and its members sign up to Examples: Safe motherhood as a human right Violence against women	* For presenting to the world the nature of our convictions and the nature of the organisation. * For strengthening arguments, particularly of principle, against lack of principle. * For countering practices/attitudes which are unethical. For use by * HQ and member associations in a similar way to 2 below.
2. External Policy: Statement on what the ICM agrees is appropriate for and in the provision of care, etc Examples: Legislation to govern midwifery practice HIV/AIDS	* For influencing the midwifery agenda on a global, international or local level; For use by * HQ - globally and internationally and nationally; The membership - Regional Reps, associations, individuals or groups of individuals - to influence national or local policy, members and their work, or to change their own practice.
3. Internal Policy: Statement describing internal and/or administrative workings of the ICM Examples: Address list policy Trade displays	* For determining what and how things should be done For use by * BOM/HQ in undertaking its work * Member associations in their work * Regional Representatives, member associations, members or groups of members when undertaking activities under the name of ICM
4. Guidelines: Statements containing directions to the ICM to undertake certain work Example of possible type of statement: Setting up of a data base	* As instructions for ICM work/activities Instructions to * HQ/BOM * Regional Representatives, membership groups or membership associations

Type of document

Use

1. Position statement:

Statement on what the ICM stands for - what its standard of thinking is, what the ICM and its members sign up to

Examples:

Safe motherhood as a human right

Violence against women

* For presenting to the world the nature of our convictions and the nature of the organisation.

* For strengthening arguments, particularly of principle, against lack of principle.

* For countering practices/attitudes which are unethical.

For use by

* HQ and member associations in a similar way to 2 below.

2. External Policy:

Statement on what the ICM agrees is appropriate for and in the provision of care, etc

Examples:

Legislation to govern midwifery practice

HIV/AIDS

* For influencing the midwifery agenda on a global, international or local level;

For use by

* HQ - globally and internationally and nationally;

The membership - Regional Reps, associations, individuals or groups of individuals - to influence national or local policy, members and their work, or to change their own practice.

3. Internal Policy:

Statement describing internal and/or administrative workings of the ICM

Examples:

Address list policy

Trade displays

* For determining what and how things should be done

For use by

* BOM/HQ in undertaking its work

* Member associations in their work

* Regional Representatives, member associations, members or groups of members when undertaking activities under the name of ICM

4. Guidelines:

Statements containing directions to the ICM to undertake certain work

Example of possible type of statement:

Setting up of a data base

* As instructions for ICM work/activities

Instructions to

* HQ/BOM

* Regional Representatives, membership groups or membership associations

You are now being invited to fill out as many Proforma as you may require.

When considering your items, please note the information given on the back of the Proforma.

After the items have been received at headquarters, they will be put to the Board of Management and copied to your Regional Representative. The Regional Representatives have been so kind as to offer to look at the wording and if necessary put the documents into the format for Council.