Central Region is governed by federal Malawi law. Learn more
    Homosexuality
    ⚢
    ✖ Illegal (imprisonment as punishment)
    Gay Marriage
    ⚭
    ✖ Banned
    Censorship
    ✔ No censorship
    Changing Gender
    ✖ Illegal
    Gender-Affirming Care
    ✖ Restricted
    Non-Binary Gender Recognition
    ✖ Not legally recognized
    Discrimination
    ✖ No protections
    Employment Discrimination
    ✖ No protections
    Housing Discrimination
    ✖ No protections
    Adoption
    ✖ Single only
    Intersex Infant Surgery
    Unknown
    Military
    ✖ Illegal
    Donating Blood
    N/A
    Conversion Therapy
    ✖ Not banned
    Age of Consent
    N/A
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Public Opinion

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History

Homosexual activity in Central Region

?

Homosexual activity in Central Region is illegal (imprisonment as punishment).

Current status
Since Apr 1, 1930
Illegal (imprisonment as punishment)
Up to fourteen years imprisonment, with or without corporal punishment (public whippings) Decriminalization pending.
Details
Sources:
malawilii.org/mw/legislatio…
Added by brennen  ·  Report error  ·  Log
Apr 1, 1930–Sep 9, 2018
Male illegal, female uncertain
8-14 years in prison. Not enforced since 2012.
Details
Sources:
theguardian.com/world/2017/…


independent.co.uk/news/worl…
Added by Ausyk  ·  Report error  ·  Log

Same-sex marriage in Central Region

?

Same-sex marriage in Central Region is banned.

Current status
Banned
Same-sex marriage is not legal.
Details
Sources:
Homosexuality is illegal.
Added by Ausyk  ·  Report error  ·  Log

Censorship of LGBT issues in Central Region

?

Censorship of LGBT issues in Central Region is no censorship.

Current status
No censorship
In Malawi, there are no laws restricting the discussion or promotion of LGBTQ+ topics.
Details
Added by equaldex  ·  Report error  ·  Log

Right to change legal gender in Central Region

?

Right to change legal gender in Central Region is illegal.

Current status
Illegal
Rules criminalized forms of gender expression.
Details
Sources:
nationalgeographic.com/maga…
Added by Ausyk  ·  Report error  ·  Log

Gender-affirming care in Central Region

?

Gender-affirming care in Central Region is restricted.

Current status
Restricted
Gender-Affirming Care in Malawi is restricted
Details
Sources:
cambridge.org/core/journals…
Added by emylrx  ·  Report error  ·  Log

Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Central Region

?

Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Central Region is not legally recognized.

Current status
Not legally recognized
There is no legal recognition of non-binary identities.
Details
Sources:
southernafricalitigationcen…
Added by Notdog1996  ·  Report error  ·  Log

LGBT discrimination in Central Region

?

LGBT discrimination in Central Region is no protections.

Current status
No protections
The Constitution of Malawi purports to protect all citizens from all forms of discrimination, however it does not refer to gender identity or sexual orientation as protect categories, and the LGBT community in Malawai continues to face discrimination.
Details
Sources:
malawilii.org/akn/mw/act/19…2020-11-03#chp_IV
hrw.org/news/2018/10/26/mal…
Added by Ausyk  ·  Report error  ·  Log

LGBT employment discrimination in Central Region

?

LGBT employment discrimination in Central Region is no protections.

Current status
No protections
The Employment Act does not mention sexual orientation or gender as a protected category.
Details
Sources:
malawilii.org/akn/mw/act/20…2014-12-31
Added by Ausyk  ·  Report error  ·  Log

LGBT housing discrimination in Central Region

?

LGBT housing discrimination in Central Region is no protections.

Current status
No protections
LGBT Malawians are not protected from housing discrimination.
Details
Sources:
malawilii.org/akn/mw/act/19…2020-11-03#chp_IV
Added by Ausyk  ·  Report error  ·  Log

Same-sex adoption in Central Region

?

Same-sex adoption in Central Region is single only.

Current status
Single only
No laws in place for same sex couples.
Details
Sources:
mw.usembassy.gov/u-s-citize…
Added by Ausyk  ·  Report error  ·  Log

Intersex infant surgery in Central Region

?

Intersex infant surgery in Central Region is unknown.

Current status
Unknown

Serving openly in military in Central Region

?

Serving openly in military in Central Region is illegal.

Current status
Illegal
Homosexuality is illegal.
Details
Sources:
forktip.com/lgbt-couple-saf…
Added by Ausyk  ·  Report error  ·  Log

Blood donations by MSMs in Central Region

?

Blood donations by MSMs in Central Region is n/a.

Current status
N/A
Homosexual activity is illegal in Malawi. The Malawi Blood Transfusion Service (MBTS) does not directly address MSMs in their donor criteria.
Details
Sources:
mbtsmalawi.com/faq
Added by Ausyk  ·  Report error  ·  Log

Conversion therapy in Central Region

?

Conversion therapy in Central Region is not banned.

Current status
Not banned
Conversion therapy is not banned.
Details
Sources:
database.ilga.org/malawi-lgbti
Added by Ausyk  ·  Report error  ·  Log

Equal age of consent in Central Region

?

Equal age of consent in Central Region is n/a.

Current status
N/A
Not applicable since same-sex relationships are illegal.
Details
Sources:
theguardian.com/global-deve…
Added by Ausyk  ·  Report error  ·  Log
Equality Index ?
N/A
There is not enough information on Central Region for an Equality Index to be assigned. Please contribute LGBTQ+ rights information or survey results that show the public opinion of LGBTQ+ issues in Central Region to help improve its accuracy.

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