Human rights defenders in East Africa and the Horn of Africa - who have been harassed, defamed, attacked, and tortured - have formed a network to support and protect one another. Their first report, launched Thursday (July 6), reveals the current human rights situations in their respective countries.

The eradication of illiteracy -a goal long proclaimed by the international community- had advanced significantly over the second half of the 20th century. Now, however, the trend towards improving literacy levels seems to be slowing down and many fear that past gains may even be lost as resources for education are cut down, with some countries alarmingly moving backwards from previously high rates of literacy.

As the G8 assembles again, a leading African lobby group exhorts summit leaders to finish what they started a year ago and fully cancel Africa’s debt. Last year G8 leaders proclaimed that 2005 would be the “year for Africa” and created a plan to address the continent’s challenges. Debt cancellation figured prominently and the G8 leaders crafted a deal to cancel 100% of the debts owed by 18 countries – 14 in Africa – to the IFIs.

Education Minister Namirembe Bitamazire has disclosed that the government has made available Sh30 billion and will recruit 2,000 teachers for the Universal Secondary Education (USE) programme commencing in February next year. "Plans will be finalised by December 2006 and the actual release will be done by February when schools open," she said.