Southern 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 Southern Region

?

Homosexual activity in Southern 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…
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Same-sex marriage in Southern Region

?

Same-sex marriage in Southern Region is banned.

Current status
Banned
Same-sex marriage is not legal.
Details
Sources:
Homosexuality is illegal.
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Censorship of LGBT issues in Southern Region

?

Censorship of LGBT issues in Southern Region is no censorship.

Current status
No censorship
In Malawi, there are no laws restricting the discussion or promotion of LGBTQ+ topics.
Details
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Right to change legal gender in Southern Region

?

Right to change legal gender in Southern Region is illegal.

Current status
Illegal
Rules criminalized forms of gender expression.
Details
Sources:
nationalgeographic.com/maga…
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Gender-affirming care in Southern Region

?

Gender-affirming care in Southern Region is restricted.

Current status
Restricted
Gender-Affirming Care in Malawi is restricted
Details
Sources:
cambridge.org/core/journals…
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Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Southern Region

?

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

Current status
Not legally recognized
There is no legal recognition of non-binary identities.
Details
Sources:
southernafricalitigationcen…
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LGBT discrimination in Southern Region

?

LGBT discrimination in Southern 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…
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LGBT employment discrimination in Southern Region

?

LGBT employment discrimination in Southern 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
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LGBT housing discrimination in Southern Region

?

LGBT housing discrimination in Southern 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
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Same-sex adoption in Southern Region

?

Same-sex adoption in Southern Region is single only.

Current status
Single only
No laws in place for same sex couples.
Details
Sources:
mw.usembassy.gov/u-s-citize…
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Intersex infant surgery in Southern Region

?

Intersex infant surgery in Southern Region is unknown.

Current status
Unknown

Serving openly in military in Southern Region

?

Serving openly in military in Southern Region is illegal.

Current status
Illegal
Homosexuality is illegal.
Details
Sources:
forktip.com/lgbt-couple-saf…
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Blood donations by MSMs in Southern Region

?

Blood donations by MSMs in Southern 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
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Conversion therapy in Southern Region

?

Conversion therapy in Southern Region is not banned.

Current status
Not banned
Conversion therapy is not banned.
Details
Sources:
database.ilga.org/malawi-lgbti
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Equal age of consent in Southern Region

?

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

Current status
N/A
Not applicable since same-sex relationships are illegal.
Details
Sources:
theguardian.com/global-deve…
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Equality Index ?
10 / 100
Legal Rights
15 / 100
This region's Equality Index is based on legal rights alone. Please submit survey results that show the public opinion of LGBTQ+ issues in Southern Region to help improve its accuracy.

Top Contributors

Southern Region LGBT Organizations

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