VOA常速英语2007年-UN Calls for Respect for Human Rights

By Lisa Schlein
Geneva
10 December 2007

To mark Human Rights Day on 10 December, the United Nations kicked-off a year-long campaign leading up to the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in December 2008. The campaign aims to promote the declaration's ideals and principles of justice and equality for everyone. Lisa Schlein reports for VOA from the United Nations in Geneva.

In a video message to the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva, U.N. Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon said the Universal Declaration of Human Rights remains¹ as relevant today as it was on the day it was adopted.

"But, the fundamental freedoms enshrined in it are still not a reality for everyone," he noted². "Too often, governments lack the political will to implement³ international norms they have willingly accepted."

The U.N. High Commissioner⁴ for Human Rights, Louise Arbour, echoed Mr. Ban's call for respect for the values and principles enshrined in the Universal Declaration.

In a subsequent news conference, Arbour told journalists the Declaration was not a product of Western cultural values. She said the Declaration contains universal principles that are relevant to all cultures.

"How they are expressed, I think in various communities, is very much dependent on traditions and cultural and religious values," added Arbour. "But not to the point of rejecting, for instance, the fundamental principle that all human beings are born equal, free and equal in rights and dignity. I cannot accept that there is any culture, religion or tradition that should supersede⁵ that fundamental principle."

Arbour warned the so-called war against terrorism has resulted in an erosion of rights. She agreed governments have a duty to provide for the security and safety of their people. But, she said, they must do this without affecting other human rights.

"They must balance the series of competing rights. That is, measures put in place to enhance securities must be respectful of the right to privacy, of the right to be protected against arbitrary arrest, extra-judicial executions," said Arbour. "There are a whole series of guarantees that I think compete equally for the attention of governments.... We have an equal appetite for safety and for freedom. We are not prepared to surrender all our freedoms for the sake of enhancing absolutely our security."

The U.N. Human Rights Chief also urged people to denounce counter-terrorism initiatives that are founded on discriminatory views and practices. She singled out the practice of racial profiling, which she said is not compatible with respect for human rights.

1 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

2 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

3 implement   

n.(pl.)工具，器具；vt.实行，实施，执行

参考例句：

• Don't undertake a project unless you can implement it.不要承担一项计划，除非你能完成这项计划。
• The best implement for digging a garden is a spade.在花园里挖土的最好工具是铁锹。

4 commissioner   

n.（政府厅、局、处等部门）专员，长官，委员

参考例句：

• The commissioner has issued a warrant for her arrest.专员发出了对她的逮捕令。
• He was tapped for police commissioner.他被任命为警务处长。

5 supersede   

v.替代；充任

参考例句：

• We must supersede old machines by new ones.我们必须以新机器取代旧机器。
• The use of robots will someday supersede manual labor.机器人的使用有一天会取代人力。