+265993 640 940 info@cheramw.org Area 47/5 Lilongwe, Malawi
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About us

Who We Are

•CHeRA is a pioneering rights-based organization in Malawi, founded and led by male and trans sex workers. We exist to challenge systemic oppression, amplify marginalized voices, and build a future where no one faces violence or discrimination for their identity or work

Vision

A Malawi where sex workers live free from stigma, abuse, and systemic barriers—with full access to health, justice, and dignity.

Mission

To enhance Malawi’s male and trans sex workers’ capacity to take up agency for their rights, protect each other from violence, and foster active citizenship.

Values

1. Community Leadership – Led by those most affected.
2. Intersectional Justice – Addressing HIV, LGBTQ+ rights, gender, and poverty.
3. Fearless Advocacy – Challenging laws/policies harming sex workers.
4. Solidarity – Peer-to-peer support as resistance
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Our Story

Our Story: Rooted in Resistance, Built by Community. Founded in 2017 by male and trans sex workers in Malawi, CHeRA emerged from the urgent need to combat systemic violence, stigma, and criminalization. Our journey reflects the resilience of a community determined to claim its rights—by us, for us. below are some of our key milestone

01

2017–2018: Laying the Foundation

• Officially registered as Malawi’s first male sex worker-led advocacy organization.
• Successfully lobbied UNAIDS Fast Track Office to secure registration funding for CHeRA and five other key population-led organizations (including LGBTIQ+ and female sex worker groups), breaking barriers to legal recognition.

02

2020: Historic Policy Wins

• With support from the Red Umbrella Fund and Open Society Foundation, CHeRA achieved a landmark victory: male sex workers were recognized as a distinct population in Malawi’s Revised National HIV Strategic Plan (2020–2025).
• Secured the first-ever local grassroots led KP focused PEPFAR-funded KP multi year program tailored to male sex workers (Key Population Investment Fund, later EpIC), a critical step toward inclusive healthcare.

03

2021–2022: Fighting for Justice

• Mobilized emergency funding (via UNAIDS) to support the appeal case of Jana Gonani, a transgender sex worker unjustly sentenced to 8 years in prison. The Chief Justice certified the case as a constitutional matter, setting a precedent for future litigation.
• Led The Diversity Forum (a KP network) to coordinate advocacy around Malawi’s Constitutional Review Case on same-sex laws (Akster v DPP), despite an unfavorable 2024 ruling. Our work amplified national debate on decriminalization.

03

2023–2025: Expanding Influence

• Co-organized Malawi’s Constitutional Review Conference (May 2025) with the Malawi Law Society and universities, fostering dialogue on LGBTQI+/sex worker rights.
• Strengthened global advocacy through partnerships with ASWA and Sexual Rights Initiative, submitting evidence to Malawi’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) to hold the government accountable.

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