Gift Trapence

Gift is a human rights defender. He is the director of the Centre for the Development of People (CEDEP) and the chairperson of Human Rights Defenders Coalition in Malawi. He has worked extensively on issues of sexual health concerning men who have sex with men (MSM) since 2005. He contributed to the pioneering of the first HIV sero-prevalence study among the MSM community in Malawi.

Fellowship Focus
Gift explored knowledge, attitudes, perceptions and willingness of African MSM towards circumcision as an HIV prevention strategy in Malawi. Using the information gathered from these discussions, he developed communication materials that provided adequate information to MSM on voluntary medical male circumcision for HIV prevention and helped to guide engagement with researchers and policy makers on implementing such studies for the benefit of African MSM and on HIV prevention research broadly.

In Their Own Words
We must fight to ensure that vulnerable populations have access to HIV and other health-related services. I'm invested in protecting every citizen’s human rights and will not rest until that is achieved.

Gift's Media Advocacy:

• Three Decades of AIDS in Malawi

Where Are They Now?
Learn what Gift is up to today.