At the heart of every community is the right to live with dignity and without fear of discrimination. This is what drives Community Health Rights Advocacy (CHeRA) as it partners with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) under the SCALE initiative to implement the ‘Key Populations Integrated HIV and Human Rights Project (KPIHIVR)’. For 10 months, this project will work to challenge the laws, policies, and practices that unfairly target some of the most vulnerable people in Malawi—key populations such as male and female sex workers—by amplifying their voices and advocating for their rights.
In line with Malawi’s ‘National HIV Strategic Plan Extended for 2023-2027’, this project places a strong focus on dismantling the human rights and gender-related barriers that deepen these communities’ vulnerability to stigma, discrimination, and health risks.
As part of the project, CHeRA recently hosted a three-day training for journalists at Edge Water Court, aimed at enhancing media understanding of Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Expression (SOGIE) and the profound impact that negative reporting has on key population (KP) communities.
Throughout the training, it became clear that media professionals face significant challenges in reporting on LGBTI issues. Many journalists expressed a lack of knowledge on these topics, leading to harmful misconceptions and narratives. The training also highlighted a gap in coordination between civil society organizations (CSOs) implementing these projects and the journalists tasked with covering them, which has contributed to inconsistent and, at times, misinformed reporting.
By addressing these challenges, the training sought to empower journalists with the tools and knowledge to accurately and sensitively cover LGBTI issues, promoting fair and balanced reporting. CHeRA’s commitment to advocating for the decriminalization of minority rights, including those of male sex workers, is grounded in both national and international human rights standards. With initiatives like this training, we are working toward a future where every individual in Malawi is treated with respect, dignity, and equality.
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