The Department of Equality’s mission statement is ‘Gibraltar: Everybody different, everybody equal.’ Our overall aim is to raise awareness of and to address issues of inequality. The department leads on a broad range of issues including gender equality, sexual orientation, and gender reassignment. The Department of Equality marks a number of United Nations key days such as International Women’s Day and the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia as well as other occasions such as International Men’s Day and PRIDE month.
The Supported Needs and Disability Office (SNDO) under the Ministry of Equality is dedicated to transforming the lives of persons with disabilities and their families. Our mission is to streamline and develop comprehensive disability services for the community and internally for HM Government of Gibraltar (HMGoG). We focus on the lived experiences of individuals with supported needs and their families, acting with respect and understanding. We are committed to providing reliable, high-quality services that promote confidence in HMGoG. Our workforce is highly skilled and trained in disability services, ensuring professional support at all times. We represent all individuals with visible and non-visible disabilities, as defined in Schedule 3 of the Disability Act 2017, and also support those on a diagnostic pathway and those with learning difficulties.
The SNDO serves as a one-stop shop for disability-related services, both for the community and within HMGoG. For the community, we offer clinics, concessions, and opportunities to share lived experiences to inform government work. We also run awareness and acceptance campaigns and liaise with disability-related NGOs. Internally, we provide training, develop policies, inform and monitor practices, and contribute to legislation development and disability data management. We ensure disability representation on various panels and boards. Additionally, we offer disability-related advice to the private sector, ensuring comprehensive support and advocacy for individuals with disabilities across all areas of society.
Continuing its mission to promote inclusion, the SNDO recently hosted a vibrant Parasports Day as part of the Change Starts with Sports campaign. This event brought together individuals of all abilities to celebrate participation, teamwork, and visibility in adaptive sports. 📸 [View photos from the event here.]
