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Donate to UNICEF’s Haiti Earthquake Children’s Appeal

Posted by ignite editor on January 14th, 2010

We’re sure by now you will be aware of the disastrous earthquake that has devastated the Caribbean island of Haiti, causing the death of what looks to be hundreds of thousands of innocent lives.

Over the last Six months MTV Staying Alive Ignite worked real close to UNICEF Latin America and Caribbean Division specifically in Trinidad & Tobago and this news has hit us all hard.

It’s impossible to put into words what the people in Haiti must be experiencing, adding to the woes of a country that is not only one of the poorest in the world, but one that has been hit by endless tragedies, including floods, hurricanes and conflict all in the last decade.

Social networking sites have been instrumental in giving the people in Haiti a voice during this disaster and knowing that the world is with them at this moment in time is the least we can offer them throughout this period. So we hope you are all sparing a thought, a prayer, a message on hope – whatever you feel works best.

We also encourage you to all take time to consider giving anything you can to UNICEF’s Haiti Earthquake Appeal – check the information below for information on how you can help.

Feel free to drop a message of solidarity in the comments box.

Thanks

MTV Staying Alive Ignite

A devastating earthquake measuring 7.0 on the Richter scale has struck Haiti causing an unfolding humanitarian crisis. Children have been killed and injured — many are in desperate need of clean water, shelter and medical help. Early reports indicate a large number of casualties and widespread damage.

The situation for Haiti was already difficult before the earthquake hit the island. Haiti is the one of the poorest countries in the world and is struggling to recover from years of violence, insecurity and massive natural disasters. More than half of the country’s 9.6 million inhabitants are under 21 years of age.

All children have rights — these are most at risk of being denied in emergencies. UNICEF is working to ensure that the rights of children affected in Haiti are not forgotten.

A gift of £30 could provide 3 families with basic water kits, protecting more children’s right to be healthy.

Please donate to UNICEF’s Haiti Earthquake Children’s Appeal today.

UNICEF has been working in Haiti since 1949. We rely entirely on voluntary contributions and receive no funding from the United Nations budget.

Your donation will go to the Haiti Earthquake Children’s Appeal to support children affected by the recent earthquake in Haiti.

If the funds raised exceed UNICEF’s funding requirements for this emergency‚ the money will go to UNICEF’s Children’s Emergency Fund.

http://www.unicef.org.uk/give/index.asp?page=33&google=haiti_jan10&gclid=CJiswLOApJ8CFVVu4wodwA8lIw

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Newsflash – Kenya steps up fight against HIV/AIDS

Posted by ignite editor on January 13th, 2010

Great to read an article in which a country is being applauded for their efforts in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
In this article UNICEF Executive Director Michel Sidibe commended Kenya, saying coordination among various AIDS agencies in the country is going on well. Also in the article, Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki also emphasised his countries commitment and investment into tackling the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

Kenya steps up fight against HIV/AIDS
Kenya Broadcasting Corporation

12/01/2010

The Government has stepped up the fight against HIV/AIDS to reduce its prevalence rate in the country.

President Mwai Kibaki however cautioned that Kenyans must not relent in the fight against the disease.

Speaking on Tuesday at Harambee House when he met with the Executive Director of the United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS, Mr. Michel Sidibe, President Kibaki said his Government is tackling the war against HIV as part of Kenya ’s national medium and long term development strategy.

“Indeed, Kenya is responding positively to the epidemic and has heavily invested in HIV prevention and treatment,” President Kibaki said.

The President is, however, making a passionate plea to Kenyans not to relax but upscale the fight against HIV/AIDS at personal level.

“Government can help in the fight, however, individuals must continue to make deliberate choices to keep HIV/AIDS at bay by being responsible and taking personal decisions fully aware of the reality and dangers of the disease,” said the President.

He reassured that there is strengthened and renewed political commitment in the fight against the disease.

The Head of State cited the effective prevention of mother to child transmission meant to ensure children born of HIV positive mothers are HIV free and the aggressive campaign to place more Kenyans suffering from the disease on anti-retroviral drugs.

The President pointed out that the Government is committed to enacting a National AIDS Control Agency Act before the end of 2010 to strengthen coordination and accountability for resources.

On his part, Mr. Sidibe, thanked Kenya for supporting his campaign that led to his appointment as the Executive Director of UNAIDS.

The UNAIDS Executive Director commended Kenya ’s HIV/AIDS programs, saying coordination among various AIDS agencies in the country is going on well.

Noting that more people are dying of AIDS in Africa than in the developed countries, Mr. Sidibe expressed the need for concerted efforts to address the inequality.

Speaking during the meeting, Special Programmes Minister Dr. Naomi Shabani and Public Health and Sanitation Minister Beth Mugo appealed to expectant mothers to attend antenatal clinics after delivery to minimize chances of mother to child HIV transmission.

In order to accelerate attainment of the Government’s target of ensuring that 80 per cent of Kenyans know their HIV status, the Government and partners have over the last three years held national HIV testing campaigns popularly known as Jitambue Campaign.

During the 2009 national HIV testing campaign, the Government succeeded in exceeding the target of testing one million Kenyans over a three week period in November and December.

Today, it is estimated that over 40 per cent of adult Kenyans have tested for HIV, making the country one of the few countries in sub Saharan Africa to have reached that level.

So what did you think of this article? If you are from Kenya, do you feel HIV is being taken as seriously as it could be in your country? If you are not from Kenya, do you feel HIV is being tackled with enough urgency in your country?

Drop us a comment…

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Newsflash – HIV/AIDS Group Going After Florida Adult Filmmakers

Posted by ignite editor on January 12th, 2010

We just spotted this article on sun-sentinal.com about a HIV/AIDS organisation going after Miami based adult film companies for the lack of condoms used in their films. This begs the question – just how much influence does the adult film industry have on the sexual behaviours of those who view the films. Just how much of what you see in a porn film are you, in particular young people likely to replicate with your partner?

HIV/AIDS Group Going After Florida Adult Filmmakers

Complaints about not using condoms

Although local film officials say they know nothing of a pornography business in South Florida, a California HIV/AIDS organization Monday said it is filing complaints with Florida health officials about Miami-made films in which sex actors did not use condoms.

AIDS Healthcare Foundation, which offers services and a health plan in South Florida, said it had identified 10 DVDs shot at least partly in Miami with no condom use, which it says encourages unsafe sex. Three Miami-based companies were involved, said group President Michael Weinstein, which indicates an adult film business exists here.

The complaints declare the condom-less films to be “sanitary nuisances” that lead to the spread of disease and should be stopped. The Florida Department of Health is looking into the matter, a spokeswoman said.

For more information about HIV/AIDS prevention, see www.cdc.gov/hiv

Bob LaMendola

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/health/fl-condomless-porn-20100111,0,3530898.story

So what did you think about this article? Should the Adult film industry be pressurized to produce more responsible content? Is this a realistic ask, and how difficult would this be to police? Have you ever tried to replicate something you have seen in a porn film? Do you think condom use in Porn films would result in an increase in condom use amongst the audience?

Drop us a comment below…

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Shuga On The Radio

Posted by ignite editor on January 11th, 2010

So Shuga has already hit your screens in Kenya, however did you know we were on the radio too?

We have three audio clips from GMoney’s show on Homeboyz radio on 91.5

Have a listen below:

G- Money interviews star of Shuga – ‘Leo’ aka Nicholas Mutuma and asks him for the inside scoop of Shuga.

G-Money throws some questions at Ian Kirumba of Gpange as he speaks about the partnership between Gpange and MTV Staying Alive Ignite.

On World AIDS Day 1st December 2010 G-Money puts his questions to Rachel Gathoni of HIV Free Generation about the effect that Shuga is having on Kenya

What did you think of these clips? Did you listen to this the first time round? What do you think about the issues that were tackled in the interviews? Drop us a comment and let us know.

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In The Mix

Posted by ignite editor on January 11th, 2010

Here’s the latest post from Street Teamer Suwi, about sexual networks, Suwi lays it down for you in regards to sexual networks and tells you why you just cant be sure who you can be sexually connected to.

The first time I heard the word ‘sexual network’ I hazarded a guess about what exactly that meant. Really it’s not quantum physics and doesn’t take a genius to figure it out. To put it simply, it is a connection that is made between people who are having sex. Ok that doesn’t quite say it so allow me to illustrate. If I, Suwi, were to have sex with my boyfriend, let’s call him Dan. while on the side I am linking my sugar daddy, Mike, who is married to Cindy. Then my boyfriend Dan also has a ‘squeeze’ he’s having sex with behind my back, I’ll call her Nancy. This Nancy also has a ‘shagmate’ called Frank.

I would be sexually connected to all those people. It’s not just me and Dan, and me and Mike. It’s me, Dan, Mike, Cindy, Nancy and Frank. As a result of this, if protection is not used, I would also be at risk from any STD’s such as HIV that is being carried by any of the group.

In reality this network would be a lot larger than described and the truth is that most people have no clue how big their sexual network is, and have very little control over it. One of the reasons for this is the fact that often you don’t know your partner is cheating on you, but often in more casual situations, it is impossible to find out who the indirect sexual partners are sleeping with.

So let’s just say, using the above illustration that me and Danny never use a condom when we have sex. And neither does anyone else in our sexual network. The reality is that in real terms, we might as well just be having one big orgy because truth is that if anyone of us in the network should get infected with an STI or worse, HIV, everyone in the network is at a high risk of getting that infection.

Regardless of what people say, you just can never be sure about who, or what is in your sexual and the only way you can truly be sure you are safe is by using protection – rubber up and don’t take those chances.
Aside from the health risks, sexual networks have other, more emotional implications. Imagine the pain of me finding Danny dear (I’m rather fond of this imaginary dude now), in bed with Nancy. That unfaithful lying ****! I would have so many names to call him. But wait a second; what about me and Mike? And Mike is married for crying out loud! Who am I to talk? What if it was Dan who caught me with him? Or even worse, Cindy found out I was sleeping with her husband. Ouch!

I’m not telling you what to do with your life, but whatever you do, go into it with your eyes open, so you don’t get any nasty surprises.

What did you think of Suwi’s latest post? Can you tell us who exactly is in your sexual network?
Make sure you show her some love by dropping her a comment below…

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Newsflash – UNAIDS and Millennium Villages Project taking steps to eliminate mother-to-child HIV transmission in Africa

Posted by ignite editor on January 11th, 2010

newsflash

Great to see that UNAIDS are tackling the issue of Mother to Child HIV transmission. The article suggests that this is one of the most preventable ways of contracting HIV, and is something that should be treated as a priority, especially as the problem spreads across three of the Millennium Development Goals – Goal 4 (reduce child mortality), Goal 5 (improve maternal health) and Goal 6 (combat HIV/AIDS, TB, malaria and other diseases).

Nairobi, 11 January 2010 – Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of UNAIDS, and Jeffrey Sachs, Director of the Earth Institute and Special Advisor to United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, visited one of the Millennium Villages in Sauri (western Kenya) to witness first-hand the progress that has been made in fighting poverty, boosting agricultural productivity, increasing access to health care and education, and creating an enabling environment for communities to build and sustain economic growth. Their visit focused particularly on efforts to virtually eliminate mother-to-child HIV transmission and was part of an official five-day visit to Kenya.

UNAIDS and the Millennium Village project joined forces in September 2009 to strengthen prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission (PMTCT) services at the village level with the aim of creating “MTCT-free zones”. In the Millennium Villages, PMTCT services are integrated within the maternal-child health package and a continuum of care is offered to the mother from the antenatal period through delivery and the postnatal period. Levels of HIV testing among pregnant women in the Millennium Village sites have increased from 10% at baseline to over 60% in three years. The UNAIDS-MVP partnership will further improve on these gains by decreasing the incidence of HIV among women, meeting needs for modern contraceptives and blocking transmission from mothers to their babies.

“UNAIDS brings unrivaled global expertise, leadership, and detailed strategies to the fight against HIV/AIDS, including PMTCT,” said Sachs. “The MVP brings the power of integrated rural development, including primary health systems, to the fight against poverty, hunger, and disease. By teaming up, UNAIDS and MVP will design and implement a powerful system to bring PMTCT to near zero, and do so in a way that can be utilized in other parts of Africa and the world. I am profoundly grateful to Michel Sidibé and his colleagues at UNAIDS for this unique partnership, and know how much my colleagues throughout the MVP are looking forward to learning from and working together with UNAIDS.”

In 2008, 390,000 infants in sub-Saharan Africa became infected with HIV from their mothers. “AIDS has become the leading cause of the death among infants and young children in much of sub-Saharan Africa,” said Michel Sidibé. “We have seen that it is possible to virtually eliminate infant HIV infections in high-income countries through HIV testing of pregnant women, contraception, and the use of antiretroviral drugs during and after delivery. Now we must apply the knowledge and tools to create an AIDS-free generation in Africa and the rest of the world. The move towards universal prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission requires translating scientific evidence into routine practice. With a concerted effort, we can fully curb the mother-to-child transmission of HIV and bear witness as an HIV-free generation is born in Africa and the world,” said Sidibé.

The Millennium Villages Project (MVP), a partnership between the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), The Earth Institute at Columbia University, Millennium Promise, and local governments, provides a new approach to fighting poverty. Now covering approximately 500,000 people and growing, the project is showing the development community worldwide that an integrated package of development interventions, supported by a modest financial investment-about $110 per person annually over five to ten years-will be instrumental to achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Improving child survival and reducing mother-to-child transmission of HIV remains a key focus of this effort.

As a result of the MVP, there are now six health centers in Sauri, where between 60-70% of people live on less than US$1 per day. Health throughout the Sauri village cluster has improved greatly since the project was set up in 2005 with a reduction in malaria cases, significant improvements in maternal and child health, and increased access to HIV testing and treatment.

The partnership between UNAIDS and MVP focuses specifically on achieving Millennium Development Goal 4 (reduce child mortality), Goal 5 (improve maternal health), and Goal 6 (combat HIV/AIDS, TB, malaria and other diseases) by 2015 by decreasing the incidence of HIV among women, meeting couple’s needs for modern contraceptives and blocking transmission from mothers to their babies.

What did you think of the above article?Drop us a comment and let us know…

For more information on Mother to Child HIV Transmission, see the following link:

http://www.unaids.org/en/PolicyAndPractice/Prevention/PMTCT/default.asp

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Newsflash – HIV Positive: No Reason for Lay-Off

Posted by ignite editor on January 11th, 2010

newsflash

Check out this article about an individual in Turkey who won his right to work in a court case against the discrimination shown by his employers in Turkey. This we feel is a great landmark case for people living with HIV, it is important that people know their rights in the workplace, in the fight against the stigmas and discrimination that can often prevent HIV positive people from living with HIV.

Istanbul – BİA News Center

11 January 2010, Monday

HIV positive person A.S. was layed-off because of his carrying the HIV virus. He did not accept this discrimination and went to court. Both the Labour Court and the Court of Appeals decreed for his return to work.

HIV positive A.S. went to court to seek his right against the discrimination of being made redundant because of carrying the HI virus. A labour court decided to return A.S. to work. Upon an appeal to the decision, the Court of Appeals confirmed the decree of the labour court. A.S. won the legal struggle.

“No other person who is HIV positive should experience what I was exposed to. They should take up the legal struggle against this kind of discrimination”, A.S. told bianet.

“It is difficult to overcome prejudice, yet we have no choice but struggling”. A.S. indicated that the struggle with AIDS/HIV should be a visible part of the state’s health policy. Also prejudice in the media should be dismantled by implementing scientific data into the news to ease the life of HIV positive people, A.S. stated.

HIV positive persons are exposed to discrimination in the fields of health service, property acquisition, business life and other areas of social life. The imposed violations evolve from desinformation about HIV/AIDS.

The Positive Life Association (PYD) puts efforts into reducing prejudice and preventing discrimination against HIV positive idividuals. Çiğdem Şimşek from the association named the violations of rights of people living with HIV and explained the mechanisms of struggle against it:

“It is crucial to know the rights in order to prevent discrimination against people who are HIV positive. One should know his/her own rights as well as the rights of the employer. The PYD runs the ‘law clinics project” in six towns with a high share of HIV positive people in the population. Within this project, we give material, moral and legal support for lawsuits of HIV positive people seeking justice against violation of rights”.

Şimşek argued that HIV positive people are most severely exposed to discrimination when benefiting from health service. “Furhtermore, they experience massive violation of rights at their work places. People buy medication secretly in order to avoid exclusion and lay-off. State officers have to pay for HIV medication from their own pocket”.

Şimşek points out that the association also puts efforts into spreading updated matter-of-fact information, saying that we should rather be open to learning instead of randomly labelling HIV positive people.

“The public does not want to be confronted with negative issues. Thus, we have to replace frightening messages by positive information. It is a more sensible approach to focus on the ways HIV cannot be transmitted than on focussing entirely on how to transmit it, for example.

A.S., who won the legal struggle against his employer, emphasized that while the global number of HIV infections is declining, the number of new cases in Turkey is increasing quickly. A.S. holds the insufficient measures taken by the government responsible for this development. (BÇ/VK)

What did you think of this article? Drop us a comment and let us know…

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Newsflash – Rwanda Running Out HIV/Aids Through Cricket

Posted by ignite editor on January 11th, 2010

We just spotted this article on AllAfrica.com about a joint effort between the Rwandan Cricket Association and National AIDS Control Commission (CNLS) in a programme called ‘Running AIDS out of Rwanda’. This initiative, targeted at primary and secondary schools, has proven increasingly effective and the young people taking part became increasingly sensitised to the messages that are being put across in a sporting context. This surely is an example to follow for all national and international sporting figures many who could perhaps use their idol status to deliver positive and effective messages on HIV.

9 January 2010

Linda Mbabazi

Kigali — Some of the students from the eight schools that participated in the AIDS campaign.

In Rwanda, Sports plays a fundamental role in raising HIV/AIDS awareness, especially among the youth.

This has been achieved through partnership with the National AIDS Control Commission (CNLS) that has carefully incorporated the HIV/AIDS campaign into the sports sector.

“We are far beyond that point where we debate on whether sports is a major tool in the AIDS campaign because the bigger percentage of Rwandans-young and old, are sports fanatics,” said Alex Karenzi, a 22 year-old sports fanatic.

HIV is just what it is-a micro-retro virus that slowly kills, and destroys the human race.

The lifestyle of many young adults today does not help much. Promiscuity and recklessness is characterised in the short-term vibes of youth enjoying life however, there are hazardous outcomes.

Ditching school for independence, cross- generation sex and unawareness of the various issues surrounding HIV/AIDS are the problem.

Priorities among the youth are messed up and getting harder to define daily.

Twenty year old Anita Kamikazi, a student at Kigali Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), is passionate about the subject of cross-generation sex.

“How can the nation’s most productive people be used by older people as if they can’t see the consequences? It’s time for Rwandan youth to open their eyes and be aware of anything that can ruin their lives,” Kamikazi said.

“I love my culture, I respect it with utmost sincerity, but that does not mean I’m an idiot when it comes to analyzing it as well,” she added.

Raising awareness

Recently, the Rwanda Cricket Association in partnership with CNLS concluded a two-day long crusade against HIV/AIDS in eight schools in Kigali.

These included renowned secondary schools like APRED Ndera, Lycée de Kigali, ADB Secondary School as well as primary schools like St. Joseph Primary.

Under the theme, “Running AIDS out of Rwanda and bringing cricket to Africa and fighting AIDS”, youth were sensitized.

In an exclusive interview Charles Haba, the Chairman of Rwanda Cricket Association (RCA) told The New Times that the campaign was an effort to promote AIDS awareness and participate in the social, economic and political life of today’s youth through cricket.

“Our focus centers on keeping school-going children busy during their holidays,” he said.

He underscored the benefits of the campaign in the lives of theyouth.

“We are keeping them aware of the dangers of HIV/AIDS, and giving them an opportunity to showcase their talent as we also discover raw talent,” Haba said.

“Sports is probably amongst the best avenues of sending these messages. Through sports you get numbers and people come to play willingly; better still, our cricketers get to travel a lot, so they need to be on top of their game in terms of awareness and performance.”

According to Robert Mugisha, the Administration and Development Officer of RCA, students were taught on how to prevent themselves from contracting the virus and its dangers.

“All this gave an outlet to the children to express their inner desires and emotions,” Mugisha said.

Protection

The fight against HIV/AIDS in Rwanda is monitored by the National AIDS Control Commission (CNLS). The commission was formed in 2000 under the Office of the President to coordinate the multi-sectoral programme on the AIDS pandemic.

Rwanda is one of the hard hit countries in the world but it has the leadership, the political and people’s commitment to reverse the devastating effect of HIV/AIDS.

Fighting the AIDS stigma against HIV positive Rwandans and encouraging people to go for testing in order to know their status has been incorporated in the AIDS campaign.

“I hope that young people living with HIV can grow up without discrimination and can lead fruitful lives,” said one parent Anthony Bizimana, 59.

So what did you think of this article? We think it is a real positive move by the Rwandan Cricket Association, and the fact that they have recognised that they have the potential reach to deliver these messages should also serve as an example to other influential sporting figures.

The article suggests that the initiative is particularly successful in Rwanda due to the high level of “sports fanatics” in their country, however we feel there is a high level of sports fanatics in just about every country in the world.

Do you think sporting figures and teams could play a bigger role in the fight against HIV/AIDS across the board? Also what sports figures do you recognise as already actively using their positions to spread messages of HIV?

Drop us a comment and let us know…

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Girlfriend Number Two

Posted by ignite editor on January 8th, 2010

Infidelity

Zambian Street Teamer Suwi gives it to you straight about what she calls Girlfriend Number Two’s – Suwi is talking about girls who go out with men who are already in relationships. Is this a familiar situation for you? But let’s not get it twisted, we know its not just the girls doing it!

Something has never made sense to me… Why is it that when a guy is single he’s just some guy. But the second he gets a girlfriend I don’t know why but suddenly all the girls want him? Is it because that brave girl took a step to take him out of the ‘un-dateable’ pool? I just don’t understand that one crazy thing.

But do you want to know how it really feels to be girlfriend number two? It’s no fun at all – Not one bit. The first thing is that you really don’t even qualify to be a girlfriend, you’re just there. Let me clarify, I’m not talking about the girl who has a friend who’s dating some other girl. No, not at all! I’m talking about the girl being in a secret relationship with the guy who’s dating some other girl. I know too many girls who do this. Too many!

So what is so stupid about these situations? Well for one thing, there is an illusion that you don’t love him so it’s ok that he has a girlfriend. But let me tell you, that ‘no-attachment’ living-in-denial thing really doesn’t last that long at all. When you do start feeling more, what happens then? Don’t listen to the absolute rubbish your friends tell you that he might just leave her for you. That’s really not gonna happen, (Otherwise he would already have done that!) I recently watched the movie: “He’s Just Not That Into You”. I recommend it to all the girlfriend number two’s. Like the guy in the movie said: “You’re not an exception to the general rule. You are the general rule”!

Do you know how it feels to be having a great time with a guy, then his girlfriend calls and he puts his finger to his lips to tell you to ‘hush’. You can hear her ask, “Baby, where you at?” and he responds: “Just doing some grocery shopping with my cousin.” Not fun. You get the leftovers from his real girlfriend and you can’t even text him when you want to because he has strictly said “Never call me! I’ll call you”. Why allow yourself to be at someone’s beck and call, never getting to call the shots. It’s foolish! No two ways about it.

Don’t be that other girl ladies. It’s not worth it. And the thing you can never forget is that next time, it could be you asking the “Baby, where you at?” and being lied to. Get your own man ok?

What did you think of this article? could you see yourself or one of your friends in similar situations to what Suwi was describing? Aside from just the emotional risks involved in this – What are the health implications attached to relationships like this?? Drop us a comment…

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Newsflash – Amnesty Urges Release Of Detained Gay Malawi Couple

Posted by ignite editor on January 8th, 2010

newsflash

We were saddened when we saw this article in The New York Times about a homosexual couple who were arrested and are being held in Malawi after taking part in the first same sex marriage in the nation. Regardless of whether you are gay/straight or indifferent, your freedom should not be in jeopardy simply due to your sexuality. Aside for the moral and humanitarian argument however, the other stance that should be considered is the issue of HIV/AIDS – what implications may this have on the rate of infections amongst homosexuals?

Have a read of the article and let us know what you think by dropping a comment below.

Amnesty Urges Release Of Detained Gay Malawi Couple
Reuters, UK

06/01/2010

Story carried by New York Times

LILONGWE (Reuters) – Amnesty International urged Malawi on Wednesday to release two men arrested last week after becoming the first gay couple to wed in the conservative southern African state, which bars homosexuality.

A Malawi court on Monday denied bail to Steve Mojeza and Tiwonge Chimbalanga following their arrest on charges of public indecency over the December 26 symbolic traditional wedding.

In a statement, Amnesty International said the men’s arrest was a violation of their rights to “freedom of conscience, expression, and privacy.”

“Amnesty International considers individuals imprisoned solely for their consensual sexual relationship in private as prisoners of conscience and calls for their immediate and unconditional release,” it added.

The rights group also criticised what it said were attempts to carry out examinations on the men to establish if they had sexual intercourse.

“The arrest … risks driving underground men who have sex with men in Malawi, making it more difficult for access to information on HIV prevention and health services,” Amnesty said.

HIV/AIDS has killed more than 800,000 people in Malawi since the first case was reported in 1985, decimating a generation of the adult age group and leaving more than one million orphans.

On Wednesday Malawi police said the two men had been taken for psychiatric tests in ongoing investigations. They face a maximum sentence of 14 years in prison if convicted.

(Reporting by Mabvuto Banda; editing by Philippa Fletcher)

So what is your stance on this article? What implication do you feel this article will have on HIV/AIDS rates in Malawi? And do you think by making homosexuality illegal, acts of homosexuality in Malawi will decrease? Drop us a comment and let us know….

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