5.3. STAKEHOLDER ROLES Stakeholders will look for different levels and types of engagement in the inquiry process. There are many different roles, all of which can support the inquiry’s work if encouraged to do so. The consultors assist in shaping the inquiry and its processes. The providers give information to assist the inquiry. The advocates persuade the inquiry of particular views or policies. The reporters monitor and report to others on what the inquiry is doing. The targets are the focus of the inquiry’s findings and recommendations. The consumers learn what the inquiry finds. Individual stakeholders can play one or more roles at any time and they can move from role to role during the course of the inquiry. Roles are not inflexible and they are not fixed. The inquiry should identify the different interests among stakeholders and the different roles they will want to play. It will benefit from these roles if it recognises what stakeholders want from the inquiry and develops good strategies of its own in response. 5.4. RESPONDING TO DIFFERENT STAKEHOLDER ATTITUDES Because stakeholders have such a wide variety of interests in the issue under inquiry, they will have very different attitudes towards the inquiry. The inquiry will need to understand the range of attitudes, identify the attitude of each stakeholder or group of stakeholders, understand the consequences to the inquiry of particular attitudes and develop strategies to address problems that some attitudes will create. Some stakeholders will be supportive of the inquiry. How does the inquiry capitalise on that support? How does it ensure that this support translates into actual assistance to the inquiry’s work and into public advocacy for the inquiry’s findings and recommendations? Some stakeholders will be neutral towards the inquiry. How does the inquiry educate, convince and activate the support of those not yet committed to the issue or the inquiry’s process? Some stakeholders will be hostile to the inquiry, perhaps to the point of attempting to undermine or even end the inquiry. How does the inquiry identify and neutralise potential opposition? How does it anticipate and prevent attempts to discredit the inquiry’s work? 5.5. ENGAGING STAKEHOLDERS The task for the inquiry is to win the confidence of all stakeholders that it will proceed transparently and fairly and in accordance with human rights standards. The inquiry must make sure that its own processes are well publicised in advance so that everyone knows how it will proceed. It must provide stakeholders from all sectors, or at least representatives of stakeholders, with opportunities to express their views, provide their evidence and, if necessary, defend their policies and actions. Chapter 5: Identify, consult and engage stakeholders | 25