The ERG has repeated its call for Government to restore Freedom of Assembly.

A statement from the ERG follows below:

In a press release today, Equality Rights Group (ERG) has said it welcomes ‘the Chief Minister’s approach of managing the pandemic response in proportion to the available evidence in real time. 

‘We also note his acknowledgement of the curtailment on civil and human rights which has resulted over the past year or so in the official statement following the latest recommendations of the Civil Contingencies Strategic Coordinating Group. Advice leading to the recent lowering of restrictions.

‘Six months ago, ERG asked for proportionality in the joint management of health and fundamental rights, though our call went unanswered in the midst of unclear and evolving evidence.

'Today more than ever, ERG holds that an examination of the facts and expert recommendations point to the time being right for ending the gridlock on the most fundamental of people’s rights: that of freedom of assembly and peaceful protest,’ the group goes on to state.

‘For the past year, Government has been rightly exercising its duty of care to the community in a careful battle against the sad consequences of the pandemic. As recent statements acknowledge, however, the situation has moved on and evolved. 

'The Chief Minister, therefore, must now exercise that judgement equitably across all fields of our community’s life. And ERG has also called on the Unions and other social agents as well as citizens’ groups to advocate that fundamental rights weigh no less than commercial or other considerations in our lives. They are a vital part of the mix.

‘Indeed, the Gibraltar we love would be unrecognisable without the rights of citizens freely exercised under the Rule of Law and the Constitution.’

‘In the same way that Government is already setting slow but sure dates in this respect, with its advance announcement re-invoking the referendum on abortion legislation for 24th June, in addition to the likelihood of planned public attendance of sports events, ERG is asking the Chief Minister, on that same qualified basis but no less, to set a firm date now for the full return of democratic normality. A right hijacked by circumstances for too long.

‘If it’s ok to lift or lower restrictions on groups or individuals meeting for various reasons of business or social need, or to drop the obligation to wear masks except in limited areas of Gibraltar, it is not beyond the scope of both policy and policing to adopt proportional measures when it comes to freedom of assembly. Indeed, from all the expert evidence that has been made available both in Gibraltar and elsewhere, there is no reason why peaceful assembly held with all the recommended measures cannot be as reasonable and safe as all the other limitations which have now been dropped. 

'Our fundamental rights cannot be allowed to become the Cinderella of our concerns.’