About Us

person wearing pride bracelet and touching neck

Profile

Malawi is a society patent by stigma and discrimination, violence and poverty (based on gender or HIV/AIDS status) and common fear of society.

ActiveUs is a voluntary LGBTQI+ led organization founded in 2013 to advance HIV and AIDS response and Human rights of the LGBTQI+ in Malawi. It is an independent and deliberate body intending to combat and tone down the impact of HIV and AIDS and the down trodden human rights through popular education, diminution of Stigma and Discrimination and add voice to the existing network enforcing change in the complete human rights cycle.

Strategy

Identify what are the key issues affecting LGBTQI+ in their areas of residence, decisions made about factors impacting their lives and daily endeavors, access to social services including HTS, screening and treatment, Human rights violations and reporting, tasking action to enforce change through provision of friendly social amenities and legal protection.

Participatory targeted audience – LGBTQI+ in this case, will ensure ownership of the future programming on the full health and Human rights and the provision of relevant information that will determine the best intervention tailored for them.

Common Challenges

(reports/data locally available)

  • Laws on civil unions 
  • Lack of or low local resources supporting the LGBTQI+ cause
  • No funding or prominent financial support
  • Unavailability or low supply of barrier method to rural settings
  • Poor Service delivery – unethical practices, attitudes, stigma and discrimination
  • Low Capacity building – both LGBTQI+ and service providers
  • Human exploitation – arbitrary arrests, stigma and discrimination, sexual abuse based on gender identity and young age.
  • Change resistance due to beliefs and norms fueling the spread of HIV/AIDS and Human rights violations. (Culture and Religion)

Overall Goal

  • To respond to the gaps appearing in the HIV/AIDS and Human rights context targeting LGBTQI+ populations in order to address the priorities within the health care, justice system and the risk factors affecting LGBTQI+ populations in Malawi.
  • To strengthen governance, civil society and LGBTQI+’s capacity to foster human rights and Gender justice, protect LGBTQI+ from any forms of violations and promote social behavior change to reduce the impact of HIV/AIDS in Malawi 

Key Objectives

  • To develop a profile of key concerns and experiences relevant to better understanding of the LGBTQI+ in Malawi
  • To acquire an intersectional understanding of the intricacy surrounding the LGBTQI+ in Malawi 

Quality intervention targeting LGBTQI+ groups aim at:

  • Promoting safer sex practices to reduce HIV/AIDS among LGBTQI+
  • Introducing use of PEP/PrEP to sexually active LGBTQI+ youth 
  • Increasing penetration and uptake of HIV preventive services for LGBTQI+ – HTS and referral system, ART administration 
  • Expanding the network of LGBTQI+ and enhance support groups 
  • Promoting and protecting human rights of the LGBTQI+
  • Increasing access to legal support and justice systems