Government responds to yesterday’s Equality Rights Group’s Press Release.

"Minister Licudi has already responded to Mr Alvarez’s request for an update on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, pointing out that the HM Government of Gibraltar awaits the UK’s extension of the Convention to Gibraltar. However, the ERG and the public can be assured that all necessary laws and policies are already in place in Gibraltar in order to comply with treaty obligations. As far as Gibraltar is concerned, all the necessary steps have been taken at our end in order for the Convention to be extended to us.

The Government is taking a multi-agency approach to develop strategies to combat domestic abuse. There has also been significant investment in the holistic training of Care Agency staff to support victims of domestic abuse and also to work with perpetrators to help prevent future incidents. This work is in parallel with the spirit of the Council of Europe’s Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (the Istanbul Convention). However, the Government of Gibraltar is already working in parallel with UK by actively adopting strategies and implementing policies that combat domestic abuse. It should also be noted that the Istanbul Convention has not yet been ratified by the UK.'