Edgar Triay: What does the BSL Act mean for Gibraltar?

On the 25th May 2022 Gibraltar Parliament passed Gibraltar’s version of the UK BSL Act. Like the BSL ACT NOW, the Gibraltar Hearing Issues and Tinnitus Association (GHITA)had been rallying in partnership with the UK Campaigners.

What does this Act mean for the resident Deaf population? It is an acknowledgement not only of their language but their existence too.

Historically the rights and needs of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing in Gibraltar has been poorly protected and met. GHITA has been making inroads since our inception back in 2008.

Since we have been around, the GSLP/Liberal Gibraltar Government has recognised deafness as a disability in law and the installation of inductive loops on public counters/public venues has been on the increase too.

Additionally, the use of services like Sign Video and BSL Interpreters has also been supported by the current administration but there is still a lot to introduce and improve. The use of in-person BSL Interpreters is the exception rather than the norm. None of the Government webpages or press releases are translated into British Sign Language.

Access to information is further hindered by the fact that the national TV broadcaster (Gibraltar Broadcasting Corporation) does not use BSL Interpreters in their broadcasts and subtitles are only available on their online content.

Access to emergency and other services has improved after Covid-19 Pandemic with the introduction of WhatsApp mobile numbers and emails to apply for services. Gibraltar Government’s EGov.gi initiative has helped to make public services inclusive for the Hard of Hearing though more posted content translated into BSL is needed.

The Gibraltar Health Authority will open a new state of the art Audiology/ENT Suite within 2022 that will become a game changer in diagnosis and management of hearing loss. Though GHA have been pioneers for introducing Sign Video in Gibraltar, their in-person BSL interpreting service needs to be expanded.

Education and Employment is where Deaf and Hard of Hearing are clearly discriminated against. British Sign Language is not available in public or private schools in Gibraltar, there are no resident Deaf tutors nor Teacher of the Deaf employed in any school. Gibraltar society suffers from Audism and our battle against it is not an easy one. We are hopeful the new BSL Act will become a catalyst for change in our favour.

Unfortunately, the United Nations Convention for the Rights of the Disabled is not fully enacted and implemented in local law, let alone policed, reviewed, and monitored.

This has pushed some disability charities to join forces and establish the Gibraltar Disability Rights Federation in 2021, which GHITA is a founding member too. For the first time Disabled Community has become emancipated for their Rights. This has become a culture shock for some and even made some disability related charities apprehensive to join or even support the GDRF as they may do not want to be seen as anti-establishment.

The introduction of the BSL Act is seen by many not just an achievement by GHITA and the Deaf/Hard of Hearing Community but also for the wider Disability Community in Gibraltar who now more than ever wants their voices heard, their needs met, and their rights protected.

By Edgar Triay B.Sc. (Hons)
GHITA Chairperson

Find out more about the GHITA at the following links: