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Education International (EI) is deeply concerned that workers and their trade union representatives in Bahrain are facing a wave of coercive violence and massive dismissals, in apparent reprisal for their participation in legitimate strikes and protest actions for democratic change.

On 7 April, World Health Day, Education International reaffirms its commitment to the education of women and girls around the world.

Teacher unionists in Morocco have staged a two-day nationwide strike after recent demonstrations for better benefits ended in violence.

French teacher unions have issued a joint statement following on the recent district elections in France, which have seen a growth in support for the far right party, the National Front, asserting that “educators oppose the policies of the extreme right.“

The Canadian Teachers’ Federation (CTF), EI’s largest affiliate in Canada, has responded to the Prime Minister’s call for early federal elections on 2 May by asking people to “vote for candidates who give priority to education and public programs that support the well-being of children and youth.”

This conclusion was drawn by Professor Davison Munowadawafa at a meeting on school health and safety, evaluating the outcome of the EI EFAIDS programme.

While teacher unions are determined to continue to voice demands for more freedom and rights in the region, EI keeps receiving worrying reports about attacks against teachers and unionists.

Mr. Maina Kiai, chairman of the Kenya National Human Rights Commission (KNHRC), has been appointed by the Human Rights Council as Special UN Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association for a period of three years.

Participants have gathered at the EI Research Network meeting to discuss the global threats to unions from the reduction in public expenditure on education and privatisation, to testing and ranking systems that only tell part of the story.

While teacher unions are determined to continue to voice demands for more freedom and rights in the region, EI keep receiving worrying reports about attacks against teachers and unionists.

The Executive Board of Education International, the global union federation representing 30 million education personnel across 171 countries, has concluded its 37th meeting in Cape Town, South Africa, with a clear plan of action leading up to its World Congress in July 2011.

EI’s British member organisations are backing their national Trades Union Congress (TUC) call for action and will join a March for the Alternative on 26 March.

The EI Executive Board in Cape Town has condemned the murder of teacher Ilse Ivania Velásquez as a new low in an increasingly deteriorating situation in Honduras.

At the International Summit on the Teaching Profession, EI General Secretary, Fred van Leeuwen, has told participants of a "global consensus that the teaching profession is the most crucial in-school factor to achieving high quality education."

EI has begun its 4-day Executive Board meeting in Cape Town from 21-24 March.

Global Action Week is an annual campaign to raise awareness and call on governments around the world to keep their promises on the UN Millennium Development Goal of achieving Education for All.

In solidarity with teachers, students and the people of Japan, EI has established a solidarity fund to aid relief efforts after the powerful earthquake that hit the country on 11 March.

EI has condemned the suspension of higher education in Bahrain as the brutal repression of pro-democracy protesters demanding political reforms within the kingdom continues.