Amnesty International  said it  is pleased with President Joyce Banda’s announcement  to repeal laws  that criminalize  homosexuality in Malawi.

 However the human rights organization has  urged the Malawi government  to introduce the bill to repeal the laws without delay.

In her maiden State of the Nation Address since assuming office, President Banda announced that her government will repeal the “provisions regarding indecent practices and unnatural acts contained in sections 137A and 153-156 of the Penal Code.”

"Amnesty International welcomes this development and hopes that this landmark decision will lead to an end to discrimination and persecution based on real or perceived sexual orientation and gender identity in Malawi".Read the statement

Amnesty further called upon Malawi  government to  immediately introduce the bill to repeal the provisions in Sections 137A, 153 and 156 in the Penal Code.

Section 137A of the Penal Code criminalises “indecent practices between females,” provides that any female person who, whether in public or private, commits “any act of gross indecency with another female” shall be guilty of an offense and liable to a prison term of five years. Sections 153 and 156 criminalize same sex sexual conduct between men and those convicted face up to 14 years imprisonment.

In 2010, two persons were sentenced to 14 years imprisonment on charges related to same sex sexual conduct. They were later pardoned following international condemnation.