Mangochi religious leaders told to safeguard minority rights
Malawi Network of Religious Leaders Living with or Affected by HIV and Aids (Manarela+) has asked religious leaders in Mangochi District to safeguard the rights of vulnerable people.
Manarela+ project officer Harold Kachepatsonga said this on Wednesday at Monkey Bay, Mangochi when orienting the faithful on advocacy and human rights in relation to minority rights.
The meeting was organised to enable religious leaders understand human sexuality as a starting point for creating an enabling environment for minority populations such as lesbians, gays, bisexual, transgender and intersex and sex workers, among others.
In an interview, Kachepatsonga challenged the religious leaders to use the pulpit to preach good messages that would make congregants to understand minority rights.
“You are privileged people in our society because of the large following and the respect people give you. Use that opportunity to preach to fellow worshippers that these people do exist, not by choice, but through the creator Himself.
“I feel through the messages, people will be able to understand and they will stop perpetrating violence against them,” he said.
Monkey Bay Muslim Association of Malawi (MAM) secretary for Yusuf Sitola thanked Manerela+ for engaging them, promising to put into practice what they learnt.
Manerela+ is implementing a two-year HIV and Aids project with financial support from Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa (Osisa). n
