No money for gay rights consultations—MHRC

Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC) says it is yet to get funding from government to constitute a national inquiry for Malawians to provide direction on same-sex relationships.

In an interview at the weekend, MHRC chairperson the Reverend Patrick Semphere acknowledged that Minister of Justice Titus Mvalo told the United Nations (UN)that government is looking to MHRC to lead on the matter.

He said: “You may remember that in 2018 government made a request to the commission on the same matter, but resources were not available.

“This time around, we hope government will walk the talk to provide resources for us to undertake a national inquiry so that Malawians can provide a direction in this regard.”

On his part, Mvalo said he needed to ask ministry officials on funding.

But during the UN Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review Working Group meeting in Geneva, Switzerland on November 3, the minister said MHRC was working on the matter.

“The  LGBTI is another sticky issue. MHRC was tasked to work on the issue, and it is doing so,” he said.

Meanwhile,  UN Malawi’s senior human rights adviser Sabina Lauber asked the country to decriminalise same-sex relationships, saying every individual has the right to be free from violence and discrimination.

Sections 153 and 156 of Malawi’s Criminal Code prohibit “unnatural offences” and “indecent practices between males”.