LGBTQ+ people in Malawi have issued fresh calls for the government to introduce laws protecting their rights, as members of the community continue to report physical attacks, entrenched stigma and barriers to accessing healthcare. A 30-year-old lesbian woman from Mpemba, along with others from Ndirande and Machinjiri, said the current legal environment is directly infringing on their rights, leaving them exposed to violence and discrimination, including significant difficulties accessing services at public health facilities. When approached for comment, Ministry of Justice spokesperson Frank Namangale declined to respond to the issue. The renewed appeal comes over a year after Malawi’s Constitutional Court refused to overturn laws criminalising same-sex relationships in June 2024, a ruling that has left LGBTQ+ Malawians continuing to face significant legal restrictions and diminished protection under the law. Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :