South Africa's largest teachers' union welcomed a decision by Commonwealth countries last Thursday to clamp down on the poaching of educators from developing countries. Education ministers of 23 Commonwealth states agreed to a series of measures that will guide the process of international teacher recruitment. The Commonwealth protocol does not ban recruitment from developing countries altogether, but is intended to end the organised targeting of poorer countries by wealthier ones seeking teaching staff.

Africa Action has warned against efforts by the international community to unfairly foist on the African Union the ultimate responsibility for stopping the genocide in western Sudan. Following a September 1 report on Darfur submitted to United Nations (UN) Secretary General Kofi Annan, Africa Action reiterated the call for an immediate and robust multinational intervention. Salih Booker, Executive Director of Africa Action, said, "While we commend the African Union for its efforts to address the Darfur crisis, we must recognize its real limitations. The African Union does not have the resources to lead a strong and urgent intervention in Darfur, though it can form an important part of such an international response."

Recent research studies worldwide reveal that sexual violence in the education sector is an unaddressed problem. This report from the Panos Institute attempts to address this gap by focusing on the problem of sexual violence in educational institutions all over the world, and argues that educational institutions, due to the level of respect they hold in communities, can help break the cycle of violence through addressing it vigorously where it happens, and ensuring that curricular and extra-curricular opportunities equip young people to navigate their sexual lives without violence.