Community Health Rights Advocacy is a national, registered LGBTQ-led non-governmental organization in Malawi. CHeRA was established by gay men who work as male sex workers to tackle social and health related challenges faced by vulnerable and marginalised men who sex with men (MSM) based on their real or perceived sexual expression, orientation, and gender identity (SOGIE) in Malawi. CHeRA is mandated to reduce vulnerability of minority groups to abuse and HIV by engaging health care providers, law and policy makers, law enforcers, traditional leaders and the public for inclusivity in all aspects of human development. These efforts are carried out without any form of prejudice or discrimination through feasible community empowerment mechanisms.
Since its inception in 2017, CHeRA has gained vast experience in working for and with the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender People Queer+ (LGBTIQ) people including the LGBTQ refugees and violence survivors. In 2019, CHeRA and Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR) successfully implemented a project at Dzaleka Refugee Camp called “Breaking Barriers: Promoting access to HIV services for LGBTID+ migrants living in and around Dzaleka Refugee Camp in Malawi through advocacy and community engagement”.
CHeRA’s Executive Director who was speaking on the sidelines of the contract award grant signing ceremony held at Capital Hotel in Lilongwe, said that the project is among other things designed to (i) Develop and implement a peer-led cultural and socio-economic mediation and integration strategy for LGBTIQ+ refugees to provide safe landing spaces to support LGBTIQ+ refugees; (ii) Empower Dzaleka LGBTIQ+ community with social accountability processes implementation skills to monitor the quality of services delivered and (iii) strategically manage relationships with all key service providers and stakeholders at the camp for mutually beneficial outcomes; (iv) Empower community development structures and institutions/ partners/agencies in the camp and host community on LGBTIQ+ rights to prevent and mitigate damaging attitudes and behaviors and violence towards the LGBTQ+ individuals and (v) Improve access to redress, justice and remedies through non-confrontational engagement with duty bearers, UN agencies, NGOs and community leaders by LGBTIQ+ refugees.
“CHeRA has a vested interests in supporting LGBTIQ+ refugees because as a founding member and an Executive Director myself (Aniz Mitha) was once LGBTIQ+ refugees in South Africa. I have lived experiences as an LGBTIQ refugee. In 2015 due to cordial working relationship with United Nations for Higher Commission for the Refugees (UNHCR), I provided safe spaces for 11 LGBTQ individuals, (1 refugee) in 2018-2020 at my house” Mitha said.
The 12-month project will contribute to improved refugee rights and protection through participatory accountability systems based on international law, Malawi laws and regulations regarding refugee rights and entitlements, and the Sustainable Development Goals focused on gender equality and non-discrimination. Greater knowledge of LGBTIQ+ refugees’ rights, how to assert those rights, how to access public services, and how to access information about opportunities and challenges in the camp; enhanced LBTIQ+ refugee access to and utilization of healthcare, education, and justice services, as well as vocational training; and Refugee LGBTIQ+ leaders, camp management, will also be priority areas. Host community leaders will be better able to participate in camp governance procedures and comprehend policies, their rights and restrictions, and laws —all for accelerating progress to reach LGBTIQ and refuge communities.
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