国家地理-2008-06-19 Child Labor 聚焦世界无童工日

The United Nations International Labor¹ Organization marked the annual World Day Against Child Labor on Thursday to raise global awareness² about the cycles of poverty that force millions of children into work, often denying them the chance to an education. A report released by the Organization, Thais Social Development, placed a spotlight³ on the massive number of child laborers⁴ in Mexico.

 "So far in Mexico there does not exist a national program to prevent and eradicate⁵ the issue of child labor, therefore there is no political will for this. The topic is invisible. It's invisible to authorities and invisible with the national statistics."

 Worldwide 1 in 6 children between the ages of 5 and 14 are child laborers. Many are exposed to dangerous conditions, and most have no access to schools. Many youth work to help out their families financially, but unfortunately, many children work under unsafe and inhumane conditions.

 "Approximately 600,000 children work in the fields for up to 12 hours a day. 46% even work 6 days a week without any rest. 150,000 children said they had never gone to school."

 In the Peruvian capital of Lima, legislators gather with child workers in an event  calling for an end to child labor in the country.

 "From here, we want to put  an end, once and for all, to the 2 million Peruvian children and teenagers who work and do not have access to education because of work. According to UNICEF, children living in the poorest households and in rural areas across the globe are most likely to be pushed into child labor. Most have minimal⁶ chances of ever obtaining access to an education.

 

1 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
• He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。

2 awareness   

n.意识，觉悟，懂事，明智

参考例句：

• There is a general awareness that smoking is harmful.人们普遍认识到吸烟有害健康。
• Environmental awareness has increased over the years.这些年来人们的环境意识增强了。

3 spotlight   

n.公众注意的中心，聚光灯，探照灯，视听，注意，醒目

参考例句：

• This week the spotlight is on the world of fashion.本周引人瞩目的是时装界。
• The spotlight followed her round the stage.聚光灯的光圈随着她在舞台上转。

4 laborers   

n.体力劳动者，工人( laborer的名词复数 )；（熟练工人的）辅助工

参考例句：

• Laborers were trained to handle 50-ton compactors and giant cranes. 工人们接受操作五十吨压土机和巨型起重机的训练。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• Wage-labour rests exclusively on competition between the laborers. 雇佣劳动完全是建立在工人的自相竞争之上的。 来自英汉非文学 - 共产党宣言

5 eradicate   

v.根除，消灭，杜绝

参考例句：

• These insects are very difficult to eradicate.这些昆虫很难根除。
• They are already battling to eradicate illnesses such as malaria and tetanus.他们已经在努力消灭疟疾、破伤风等疾病。

6 minimal   

adj.尽可能少的，最小的

参考例句：

• They referred to this kind of art as minimal art.他们把这种艺术叫微型艺术。
• I stayed with friends, so my expenses were minimal.我住在朋友家，所以我的花费很小。