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TITTLE: Malawi and homosexuality: politics vs justice

TITTLE: Malawi and homosexuality: politics vs justice. Presenter: Gift Trapence Organisation: Centre for the Development of People (CEDEP) Country: Malawi . INTRODUCTION. Political support of LGBT issues in Malawi and Africa.

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TITTLE: Malawi and homosexuality: politics vs justice

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  1. TITTLE: Malawi and homosexuality: politics vs justice Presenter: Gift Trapence Organisation: Centre for the Development of People (CEDEP) Country: Malawi

  2. INTRODUCTION • Political support of LGBT issues in Malawi and Africa. • State sponsored homophobia and blame game. • International conventions, HIV/AIDS policies vs sodomy laws: standards of double dealing. • Governance, democracy and accountability woes: the tendency of hiding behind LGBT issues. • Work towards addressing the issues

  3. Political support of LGBT issues in Malawi and Africa • Politicians don’t support equal rights for LGBT people. • Politicians homophobic statements. (Tiwonge and Steven sodomy case). - homosexuality is un African, is a taboo, unthinkable. - Gay people are mentally challenged, their behavior is foolish and satanic. • Governments and opposition politicians agree only on condemnation of homosexuality. • The media sensationalize politicians statements on LGBT and allow politicians to use it to their advantage.

  4. State sanctioned homophobia andblame game • Government threats to ban NGOs advocating for the rights of LGBT people. • Police arrests, threats and hunting of high LGBT individuals. • Government issue of intimidating press statements. • Blame game on donors imposing western agenda to African governments. • Blame game on NGOs of being bought by Donors.

  5. Governance,democracy and accountability woes: the tendency of hiding behind LGBT issues. • Why politicians are so vocal on condemning LGBT as compared to sexual violence? (rape and defilement). • Government politicizing the sodomy case to seize opportunity to distract people’s attention from other governance issues • Government bashing LGBT to seek people’s sympathy

  6. International conventions, HIV/AIDS policies vs sodomy laws: standards of double dealing • Ratification of numerous conventions for the right to equality and dignity. • Inclusion of MSM in HIV prevention strategies and policies. • Recognition and arrests of LGBT people. what a contradiction? -For LGBT its sodomy and for MSM HIV outreach workers possession of pornographic materials. • Need for explanation on double dealing - is it a strategy to access Global fund money.

  7. Addressing the issues • Advocacy around constitutional, legal and policy and changing the attitudes • - CEDEP works with public health professionals, academia, UN Agencies, local and International NGOs. • -Hosted LGBT national conference for 70 participants where a task force was formed to push for the health and human rights of Malawi 's most at-risk populations. • Research on MSM HIV and human rights • Results- Inclusion of MSM in 2009- 2013 national HIV prevention action frame work.

  8. Addressing the issues cont…. • CEDEP reached 350 MSM with HIV related information. • Training of the media on LGBT issues Challenges • Lack of support from policy makers, NGOs and National Aids Council. • Lack of funding to scale up the programs • Since 2006 CEDEP has been applying for funding from the Aids Council but can’t access the funding

  9. CONCLUSION • Politicians should be taken to task on all aspects of good governance including respect for human rights and should not hide behind LGBT issues. • Existing funding structures fail to address the needs of vulnerable groups because of lack of political will to implement existing policies.  • Its overdue for Donors including civil society to push African governments to reform policies, laws impending access to health care of LGBT people THANK YOU

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