By Steve Chirombo:
Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC), has bemoaned high levels of stigma against minority groups in the country especially t Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex and Queer (LGBTQIA+) community.
Victor Khwima, MHRC’s Regional Human Rights Coordinator for the South disclosed this Wednesday when his organisation held an awareness meeting with various stakeholders at district level in Mangochi.
Khwima said the awareness meeting was aimed at sensitising participants so that they work together with his organisation in reducing stigma and discrimination against the minority groups.
“When we are talking about the minority groups, there are several categories for example people living with HIV, the elderly, LGBTQIA+ among others.
“We have realized that as MHRC, there is too much stigma on these groups more especially the LGBTQIA+ and we would like therefore through this awareness meeting to work together with communities to ensure that we bring sanity thereby put an end to discrimination or stigma of people in this category,” he said
The Regional Coordinator for the south further said throughout the deliberations, it was observed that discrimination indeed exists against such kind of people even though people understand how things are on the ground.
“But all in all, we came to a consensus that we are not promoting other kinds of behaviors but we realise that we have such kind of people among us. These people have rights that need to be respected and promoted because they are also human beings despite their status,” indicated Khwima
Taking his turn, Mangochi District Interface Pandemic Committee, Chairperson, Sheikh Abdula Kaposa, said as religious leaders, they understood the issues at hand.
He further said, they also believe that religious is peace for every creation.
“As religious leaders, we promote peace. As such we are always working at ensuring that everyone is treated equally. People have various rights and they need access various things even if they seem not to be Godly,” said Sheikh Kaposa
The awareness meeting was done with funding from the Canadian Fund for Local Initiatives.
In Mangochi, the meeting drew together faith leaders, the civil society, youths as well as the district council team.
