Media body acknowledges progress on minority rights
The Media Task force on Minority Rights says things have changed in the country since the campaign for sexual minority rights started some eight years ago.
The group’s secretary Dalitso Chimwala said this in Liwonde, Machinga on Sunday during the review of the Media Strategic Plan for Sexual Minorities in Malawi formulated in 2013.
He said: “Although the LGBTI [Lesbian, Gays, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex] community still lives in fear, there have been some positive signs from government. There is need to continue recognising them so that they live in freedom just like everyone else.”
Chimwala urged the media to report extensively on sexual minority rights so that people understand the issues.
Centre for the Development of People (Cedep) programmes manager Rodney Chalera said there is need for a new strategic plan as the environment for sexual minorities is less violent compared to the past.
“The media has done a lot to sensitise people to sexual minority rights which has led to a change of mindset. Since the situation has changed, there is need to revise the plan. Cedep will continue to monitor the situation while the media continues to sensitise and report on sexual minority rights,” he said.
The revised strategic plan will be for five years from this year. Some of the issues in the strategic plan are non-judgemental and non-discriminatory reporting.
