PHM Africa Learning Space

The People’s Health Movement, a global network bringing together grassroots activists, civil society organizations, academics and health workers from around the world , condemns the action by the Malawian judicial system in sentencing Tiwonge Chimbalanga and Steven Monjeza, a gay couple, to 14 years in imprisonment in Blantyre, Malawi for committing “unnatural acts” based on outdated colonial laws. Section 20 of the Malawian constitution clearly states: “Discrimination of persons in any form is prohibited and all persons are, under any law, guaranteed equal and effective protection against discrimination on grounds of race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, nationality, ethnic or social origin, disability, property, birth or other status”. The multiplicity of victimization and arrests of lesbian and gay couples in many African countries over the past few years especially in countries such as Malawi and Uganda is a gross violation of human rights. The