Ei-iE

In Geneva, the Committee on Sectoral and Technical Meetings (STM) of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Governing Body approved on 19 March a new approach to activities that takes ILO's agenda out into the workplace.

The ILO Workers' Group and EI met the Iranian delegation to the ILO Governing Body in Geneva on 21 March on the current teacher crisis in Iran. This meeting is the result of EI's request for ILO intervention on 16 March.

Over 12 000 teachers from all over the country gathered in Warsaw on 21 March to protest against the government harassment of gay and lesbian teachers and teachers with left-wing sympathies.

EI wrote to the President of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, on 16 March condemning the harsh repression and arrest of hundreds of teachers who were protesting on 14 March for better pay and working conditions.

Global Action Week, April 23-29, is a key date in the calendar of those working towards the achievement of quality Education for All.

Teachers’ unions in India are lobbying hard for changes to be made to the draft Right to Education Bill.

EI representatives visited teachers’ unions in Eastern and Southern Africa at the end of February to review the EFAIDS activities undertaken in 2006 and to plan for EFAIDS activities in 2007.

According to EI contacts in Iran, over 50 teachers were reportedly arrested on 14 March during their demonstration in Tehran for better pay and working conditions through the enactment of the Pay Parity Bill.

The BUT/Barbados has reacted positively to the Government of Barbados’ announcement on plans to introduce anti-discrimination legislation this year for people living with HIV/AIDS. If properly implemented, the new laws would signify a considerable step forward for the movement to ensure greater protection for HIV positive teachers and workers in...

The EFAIDS Brochure outlines the response by teachers and teachers’ unions to Education for All and HIV and AIDS. It is now available in all of EI’s official languages – English, French and Spanish.

Last month Human Rights Watch and Anti-Slavery convened a meeting in London between trade union and non governmental organizations to discuss the issue of child domestic workers.

On February 21 International Mother Language Day marked an opportunity to celebrate linguistic diversity and to promote multilingual education worldwide.

A new report by the UK-based organisation Panos looks at how social movements have brought change to the response to HIV and AIDS.

This month Dorah Johnson of the BTU/Botswana gave her views to EI on the issue of integrating HIV and AIDS into the curriculum.

This is to remind EI member organisations that the deadline for the submission of draft Congress Resolutions is approaching on 22 March 2007.

"We do not understand the word 'discussion'. Your pressures have no effect on our decision-making. Whether you are present or absent, it makes no difference in our minds." This was a statement proudly pronounced by Koohkan, one of the two members of the Iranian Parliament who met with the teacher...

EI was shocked by the use of force at a church-led prayer rally in Harare last Sunday which resulted in one death and many casualties, including women and children.

EI has sent a letter to the Prime Minister of Slovenia, Janez Jansa, in support of its affiliate ESTUS and the teachers who will demonstrate on 15 March to defend a sound public education system.