In Africa, a child dies from measles every minute. Spread through the air, measles is one of the most contagious diseases known and is the leading cause of death among unvaccinated children. The good news is that the disease is easily preventable with a simple intervention: an inoculation. Take a Virtual Journey at the website provided and Help Vaccinate Children Against a Killer Disease.

The HIV/Aids pandemic compounds the challenge of reducing child labour in several ways. It adds to the number of vulnerable children, especially orphans. It increases pressure on households, and on the children themselves, to have children seek income instead of attending school. It increases demands on public and private services, notably the delivery of effective health care for children and adolescents.

This report presents the findings of a rapid assessment study conducted in Arusha, Dar Es Salaam and Mwanza regions to investigate activities performed by working children in the informal sector. Some of the main findings from this study include that there were more male working children in the informal sector activities investigated than females. This disparity is due to the fact that most female children are tracked by society into domestic work as opposed to more male-oriented activities.

Support continues to pour in for the Africa Union - Press Freedom and Freedom of Expression Campaign Petition. By clicking on the link provided, you will find a selection of supporters and signatories so far - from 62 organisations worldwide and dozens of individual journalists and activists from all continents. Please continue to sign up by visiting http://www.ipetitions.com/campaigns/freeafricanmedia/. Signatures and support received by the 7th of July will be submitted to the out going and in coming Chairs of the African Union, but further support will be submitted periodically to ensure the new African Union Chair places media freedom and freedom of expression at the top of the AU agenda.

The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) is supporting a petition to the African Union (AU) calling for the abolishment of media laws and practices that restrict media freedom and freedom of expression in Africa. The petition, launched by two African human rights groups, the Centre for Research, Education & Development Of Freedom of Expression & Associated Rights and FAHAMU, will be presented to President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa, the Chairperson of the African Union, at a meeting of Heads of State in Maputo, Mozambique, from July 5 to 12, 2003.

About 235 NGOs are in the running for millions of dollars to be made available for HIV/AIDS projects from the Global Fund to Fight HIV/AIDS, Malaria and TB. The proposals are now being examined by a six-person committee, which has to submit its recommendations to the Ministry of Health by 16 July.

Thousands of children in Zimbabwe, who were not covered in last year's measles immunisation campaign, are expected to benefit from a follow-up programme set to kick off on 21 July 2003, said the UN Children's Fund.

Have you been working on a project that uses Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) as a tool for achieving development? Then this is an opportunity for you to share your experiences with the world. In almost all projects up-to-date knowledge about Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) is crucial, but resources and access to this knowledge are often limited. The ICT Stories objective is to capture the learning process that accompanies the introduction and implementation of ICTs in a project in exemplary stories.

Poverty is a thief and a killer. It steals children's rights, forces them to work hard instead of going to school and crushes their hopes and dreams. Join Save the Children's campaign to Beat Poverty, and help get rid of the policies that keep people poor.

Media activists in Botswana have again raised the alarm over a proposed draft communications bill which they say will pose a serious threat to freedom of expression and the free flow of information.

The World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) has been informed by a Agir Ensemble pour les Droits de l'Homme, a member of the OMCT network, of the disappearance of Mr. Léonard Hitimana, a member of the transitional National Assembly in Rwanda. According to the information received, Mr. Hitama's car was found on April 9th, close to the Ugandan border. Security forces have carried out an investigation at the President of the National Assembly's request, but it has been unsuccessful. The OMCT is asking concerned parties to write to the authorities requesting that Mr. Hitama be located, that an investigation be launched and that human rights be guaranteed.

Catherine Phiri, who has died around the age of 40, learned in 1990, after the death of her husband, that she was HIV positive. She could have done what everybody else did in Malawi at that time, and hidden the knowledge from her family, friends and colleagues. Instead, she defied stigma and discrimination and became one of the first people in her country to go public about her illness. Her death deprives the organisation she founded to help thousands of Aids orphans of a role model and visionary leader, but those who worked with her say there is no doubt that it will carry on her work.

Swaziland's labour organisations have responded to King Mswati III's draft constitution which ensures the continuity of royal rule by calling for two national strikes over the next two months.

African media professionals are invited to sign an all-African petition for Press Freedom, addressed to current Chair of the African Union (AU), Thabo Mbeki, president of South Africa. It will be presented at the AU meeting of Heads of State in Maputo from 4-12 July. The campaign is driven by the [CREDO] Centre for Research, Education & Development Of Freedom of Expression & Associated Rights and FAHAMU. "The more people who lend their voices to the cause, the more people will be willing to listen," said Rotimi Sankore, co-ordinator of CREDO. "This is not a private issue between us and the AU, this involves the entire continent. The campaign has already received widespread support from many international NGOs, but what it really needs is the support of the African media."

Continuing with his national campaign against corruption in local governments, an angry President Museveni directed local governments to prosecute Chief Administrative Officers (CAOs) who embezzle government funds.

The Anti-War Coalition (Jhb) is ratcheting-up its activities prior to U.S president George W. Bush's visit to Africa. "Bush comes to Africa to assist US imperialism. He wants to increase US multinational companies control of the resources of Africa," said the organisation in a statement.

CREDO for Freedom of Expression and Associated Rights and Fahamu have launched a petition calling on African Union Heads of State to release all incarcerated journalists and repeal all anti freedom of expression legislation. The petition is to be presented at the African Union meeting of Heads of State in Maputo in July and is addressed to President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa, the current Chair of the AU. Click on the link below to read the full letter and join the petition.

"We are desirous that the African Union Constitution would firmly stand for the respect and exercise of press freedom; embrace the accountability and responsibilities of all concerned parties, protect press freedom from attacks; strongly protest against undemocratic practices of dictators, and strongly require professionals to be governed by a code of ethics...In several AU member states, journalists are arrested, harassed, and intimidated solely for their reporting, and many countries resort to harsh, outdated laws to prosecute journalists for their work." - Extract from a letter to President Thabo Mbeki, President of Republic of South Africa and Chair of the African Union from the Ethiopian Free Press Journalists' Association (EFJA).

The World Organisation Against Torture has received reports of torture in Sudan and asks those concerned to write to the authorities urging them to immediately halt the harassment and repression and guarantee the respect of human rights and the fundamental freedoms throughout the country in accordance with national laws and international human rights standards.

This petition urges President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe to resign with immediate effect.