cedep unravels homosexuality in malawi

By Nthateng Mhlambiso (BTM Senior Reporter)

July 12, 2007: For the first time in Malawi, a human rights organisation was invited to present about gay issues at the national HIV and AIDS Research and Best Practices Conference organised by the Malawi National AIDS conference on 27-29 June 2007 at Malawi Institute of Management in Lilongwe.

Centre for the Development of People (CEDEP) a Malawian organisation which also deals with gay issues and HIV was invited to present its research findings on Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices of people in Same Sex Relationships in the Malawi (KAP) at a conference whose theme was Using Evidence in HIV and AIDS programming.

Using evidence in HIV and AIDS Programming was the theme of this conference which drew together the country�s policy makers, donors and other key stakeholders.

Presented by Gift Trapence, Director of Operations at CEDEP, KAP shows that there is a large proportion of people involved in same sex relationships in Malawi and this number cuts across the whole section of society. It also shows that sex with multiple partners is high and that condom use is considerable.

The study also showed that there is a lack of platform for men who have sex with men (MSM) to discuss HIV and AIDS related issues in relation to homosexuality and that MSM are highly vulnerable to stigma, discrimination and violence.

�It was very good to see people at the conference so eager to hear the research findings of the first ever survey to be conducted in Malawi. They cheered and laughed during the presentation which showed that they really enjoyed the presentation�, Trapence said.

Trapence added he was pleased to receive congratulatory messages from the audience. �I was expecting a hostile reception as I was going to talk about homosexuality�, he said.

He however pointed out that people Malawian people are still ignorant about homosexuality judging by the questions that they asked at the conference.

Commending the National Aids Commission for inviting CEDEP, Trapence said �We feel that the National Aids Commission has gone a step further in recognizing

Attempts to contact the Malawian National Aids Commission to find out what this invitation means for gay people in Malawi were unsuccessful.