Parliament in Gibraltar have crushed hopes of equalising the age of consent for gay men, despite increasing international interest and political pressure.
The bill, which was defeated earlier today, aimed to bring the age of consent down from 18 to 16 – the same as for heterosexuals – which remains a necessity of European human rights laws.
Despite gaining some support from government officials, it ultimately failed when opposition members voted against it on the grounds that it should've been a Government Bill, rather than a Private
Members one.
Commenting on today's defeat, human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell said:
"The Government of Gibraltar is required by the European Court of Human Rights to equalise the age of consent for same-sex relationships. The equalisation legislation should have therefore been sponsored by the government and not introduced as a private member's bill.
"I am very surprised and disappointed that this was a private member's bill and not a government bill. The government gives the impression that it is trying to evade its responsibility to uphold equality and human rights.
"As a British Overseas Territory, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has ultimate responsibility for ensuring Gibraltar's compliance with human rights law. I urge the Foreign Secretary to read the riot act to Gibraltar's Chief Minister, Peter Caruana. Gibraltar cannot be allowed to evade its human rights obligations.
"The opposition's vote against the bill gives a bad impression and contradicts its previous support for gay equality. They say it was principled stand against a flawed bill, which had failed to remove offensive legal references to disabled people as 'imbeciles', 'idiots' and 'defectives.' They protest that they were not given adequate parliamentary time to make the necessary amendments.
"The Government of Gibraltar seems intent on scuppering gay equality, with its ham-fisted tactics.
"Why was the legislation suddenly rushed through parliament, when a number of MPs were overseas and when there was insufficient time for a considered debate and amendments?" queried Tatchell.
This, however, is not necessarily a new issue. Prime Minister Gordon Brown has previously vowed to end the inequality in the age of consent, although intervention is unlikely to be a priority now due to Britain's own economic crisis.
Up until 1992, all male homosexual relationships were illegal.