英语课程计划-Abolition of Slavery

The 2nd of December is International Day for the Abolition¹ of Slavery. It was on this day in 1949 that the United Nations passed an anti-slavery resolution. This was titled the Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Persons and of the Exploitation of the Prostitution of Others. It was another half a century before the UN created an official day based on this. The day serves to remind people that slavery still exists in this world today. It highlights the fact that slavery is a terrible breach² of human rights. The U.N. wants people to fully³ understand the words of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which says: “No one shall be held in slavery or servitude.” Most slavery today is forced labour, child labour and human trafficking people.

Slavery is thousands of years old. It dates back to almost every ancient civilization. It was a part of normal international trade throughout the Roman Empire, through to Medieval times and right up to the transatlantic slave trade. Slavery in the USA was officially made illegal in 1865. The website Wikipedia describes the current situation of slavery. It says: “Although outlawed⁴ in nearly all countries, forms of slavery still exist.” The site provides an estimate that there are over 28 million people in slavery today. Human rights campaigner Siddharth Kara calculated the average price of slaves on today’s market is $340, with a high of $1,900. Most slavery today takes place in parts of Africa, the Middle East and South Asia.

1 abolition   

n.废除，取消

参考例句：

• They declared for the abolition of slavery.他们声明赞成废除奴隶制度。
• The abolition of the monarchy was part of their price.废除君主制是他们的其中一部分条件。

2 breach   

n.违反，不履行；破裂；vt.冲破，攻破

参考例句：

• We won't have any breach of discipline.我们不允许任何破坏纪律的现象。
• He was sued for breach of contract.他因不履行合同而被起诉。

3 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

4 outlawed   

宣布…为不合法（outlaw的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• Most states have outlawed the use of marijuana. 大多数州都宣布使用大麻为非法行为。
• I hope the sale of tobacco will be outlawed someday. 我希望有朝一日烟草制品会禁止销售。