Tag: gay malawi

Malawi Rights Group Seeks Review Of Imprisoned Gays’ Jail Sentences

A Malawi high court on Monday began hearing a petition by a leading rights group seeking to obtain the review of jail sentences of three gays and to overturn laws that criminalise homosexuality. “We want the court to declare the laws that criminalise homosexuality in Malawi unconstitutional,” Gift Trapence, director of a rights group, the… Read more »

Malawi Imam Backs Gay Rights

Lilongwe – A new controversy has hit Malawi after an imam has come out in the open to champion rights of homosexuals, sparking angry comments from Muslim scholars who advocate full enforcement of laws that criminalize same sex marriages in the southern African nation. “The stand of Islam on homosexuality is very clear. It’s against… Read more »

Africa: Few Programmes Target Gay Men, Other MSM and Transgendered in Southern Africa, Study Says

Analysis Despite the Global Fund’s progressive policies on the inclusion of gay men, other men who have sex with men and transgender individuals (GMT) in programmes supported by the Fund, only a tiny fraction of the money spent by the Fund in six countries in Southern Africa has targeted this population. This is one of… Read more »

Malawi president refuses to commit to repeal anti-gay laws

Joyce Banda, Malawi’s president, said she has no power to repeal anti-gay law and the matter is best left for the people to decide Malawian president, Joyce Banda, refused to commit to repealing the country’s anti-gay laws. She said she had nothing to state on whether the country should decriminalize same-sex relations or not, saying… Read more »

No regrets for Malawian jailed for gay wedding

AFP – Tiwonge Chimbalanga (R) and his gay husband Steven Monjeza prior to a press conference on June 2, 2010, five days after Malawi President Bingu wa Mutharika pardoned them. Thrown into jail for 14 years under Malawi’s anti-gay laws, Chimbalanga has no regrets about the marriage ceremony that became a symbol of Africa’s intolerance… Read more »

Churches force Malawi to backtrack on suspending anti-gay laws

Malawi has back-tracked on its decision to suspend anti-gay laws and their enforcement after being fiercely criticized by the country’s churches Malawi’s government has back-tracked today (8 November) on its decision to suspend anti-gay laws, after pressure and criticism from the country’s churches. Justice minister Ralph Kasambara was reported by GSN on monday as saying… Read more »

Malawi minister reportedly denies move to suspend anti-gay law

Johannesburg, South Africa — Malawi’s minister of justice has reportedly denied saying that the country’s law banning homosexual acts would be suspended pending a parliamentary vote on whether to decriminalize such acts. The minister, Atty. Gen. Ralph Kasambara, said this week that despite reports to the contrary, he had not issued any statements about the… Read more »

Malawi suspends anti-gay laws

Blantyre – Malawi suspended laws against same-sex relationships on Monday and ordered police not to arrest gays pending a decision on whether to repeal the legislation, a source of friction with the impoverished southern African nation’s donors. Homosexuality is banned in Malawi — as it is in 36 other African states — and carries a… Read more »

Malawi suspends anti-gay laws

Malawi has halted the enforcement of laws that criminalise same-sex relationships after comments made by the country’s Justice Minister Ralph Kasambara. According to Reuters, Mr Kasambara, who is also the Attorney General, said he wanted to have a debate on the issue before parliament decided whether to keep the laws or not. “If we continue… Read more »

IMF and Britain announce aid to Malawi after plans to legalise homosexuality

In the wake of proposals to decriminalise homosexuality and to improve human rights at large in Malawi, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the UK government have both announced increase in aid for the country. The former president, Bingu wa Mutharika, who died in office this April, had been widely criticised for his approach to… Read more »

Malawi’s president vows to repeal gay ban

Blantyre, Malawi (AP) – President Joyce Banda declared Friday she wants to repeal Malawi’s laws against homosexual acts, going against a trend in Africa in which gays are being increasingly singled out for prosecution. Banda, who assumed the presidency in April when her predecessor died, made the announcement in her first state of the nation… Read more »

Malawi: New president ‘to decriminalise homosexuality

The Malawian president has said she will repeal the laws which make it illegal to be gay in the central African state, it has been reported. The BBC and Associates Press report a speech to parliament in which president Joyce Banda said: “The Indecency and Unnatural Acts laws shall be repealed”. Ms Banda took office… Read more »

BTM Hosts Round Table On The State Of Human Rightrs In Malawi

Two human rights defenders from Malawi were recently in Johannesburg to brief South African colleagues on the situation for the LGBTI in that country. The two, Undule Mwakasungula, executive Director of the Centre for Human Rights and rehabilitation (CHRR) and Gift Trapence the Director of the Centre for the Development of People (CEDEP) met with… Read more »

Malawi to review anti-gay law

Malawi has announced that it will review a list of legislation, including a ban on homosexual acts. “In view of the sentiments from the general public and in response to public opinion regarding certain laws, the government wishes to announce to the Malawi nation that it is submitting the relevant laws and provisions of laws… Read more »