UN Treaty Against Organized Crime

By Jill Moss¹

Broadcast: October 6, 2003
This is Robert Covent with the VOA Special English Development Report.
The first treaty to fight organized criminal groups around the world is now a part of international law. The treaty went into effect last week. It is called the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime.
The U-N Office on Drugs and Crime says about one-hundred-fifty nations have signed the treaty. These include the United States, Russia, China and most of the nations in Latin America.
So far, forty-eight of the countries have gone the next step and approved the treaty. They are now expected to include the rules of the agreement in their local laws.
The treaty requires countries to approve a series of measures. One measure is to make it illegal to take part in an organized criminal group. Such groups are defined in the agreement as at least three people working together to carry out serious crimes for profit.
The treaty also includes agreements for protection against 1)trafficking in people. The U-N says criminal groups are using new transportation and communication technologies to make huge profits from their activities. These include moving immigrants illegally across borders. They also include transporting women and children for use in the sex trade or as servants.
The United Nations 2)estimates that this trafficking involves tens of thousands of women and children each year. They are brought from developing nations into Western countries and forced to work.
President Bush has promised fifty-million dollars to help 3)victims of the international sex trade. He made the promise during his speech before the United Nations General Assembly last month.
The new U-N treaty also requires that countries approve measures to fight dishonesty by public officials. And nations will have to cooperate against 4)money laundering². They will have to work together to find hidden money earned through criminal activities.
The treaty also sets new rules for countries to surrender suspects for trial and to carry out joint³ 5)investigations. In addition, countries must work to fight illegal trafficking in firearms.
The United Nations is to hold a conference in Vienna next year to examine how the treaty against organized crime is working. Officials say the treaty is a major step in efforts to support international development.
This VOA Special English Development Report was written by Jill Moss. This is Robert Covent.
注释：
1) traffick [5trAfikE ] v.干非法勾当
2) estimate [ 5estimeit ] v.估计, 估价, 评估
3) victim [ 5viktim ] n.受害人, 牺牲者, 牺牲品
4) money laundering 洗钱
5) investigation⁴ [ in7vesti5^eiFEn ] n.调查, 研究

1 moss   

n.苔，藓，地衣

参考例句：

• Moss grows on a rock.苔藓生在石头上。
• He was found asleep on a pillow of leaves and moss.有人看见他枕着树叶和苔藓睡着了。

2 laundering   

n.洗涤（衣等），洗烫（衣等）；洗（钱）v.洗（衣服等），洗烫（衣服等）( launder的现在分词 )；洗（黑钱）（把非法收入改头换面，变为貌似合法的收入）

参考例句：

• Separate the white clothes from the dark clothes before laundering. 洗衣前应当把浅色衣服和深色衣服分开。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He was charged with laundering money. 他被指控洗钱。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

4 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。