2007年VOA标准英语-UN Human Rights Council Adopts Resolution on Da

By Lisa Schlein
Geneva
30 March 2007

The U.N. Human Rights Council has unanimously adopted a resolution Friday expressing concern over the situation in Darfur, but it fails to condemn² Sudan for its actions. Lisa Schlein reports for VOA from U.N. European headquarters in Geneva.

This is the first time that the U.N. Human Rights Council has passed a resolution on the situation in Darfur since the body was created in June. Western diplomats³ consider this progress, although most of them agree that the resolution is weak. It stops short of blaming the Sudanese government for the well-documented atrocities⁴ committed in the province.

The compromise resolution, the product of days of negotiations⁵, expresses deep concern at what it calls, "the seriousness of ongoing⁶ violations⁷ of human rights and international humanitarian⁸ law in Darfur."

It talks about armed attacks on civilians⁹ and humanitarian workers, widespread destruction of villages and widespread violence, especially against women and girls. But the resolution fails to attribute blame for these atrocities.

Presidency10 of the European Union, speaks off the record about the UN Briefing Outcome of the Special Session of the Human Rights Council on Darfur, 30 March 2007<br />" hspace="2" src="/upimg/allimg/070529/1359000.jpg" width="194" vspace="2" border="0" />

Michael Steiner, Ambassador of Germany Presidency of the European Union, speaks off the record about the UN Briefing Outcome of the Special Session of the Human Rights Council on Darfur, 30 Mar1 2007

Nevertheless, German Ambassador, Michael Steiner who introduced the resolution on behalf of the European Union, says its adoption¹¹ is important for the credibility of the Council. He says it is even more important for the protection of the human rights of the people in the crisis region of Darfur.

"Given the gravity of the human rights violations in Darfur, the most essential task is now to focus on concrete, tangible¹² improvements on the ground," he said.

"However, this does not change the fact that the primary responsibility for human rights situations stays with governments. Therefore … and let me stress in the name of the whole Council, the government of Sudan [must] fully¹³ cooperate with the group in the implementation¹⁴ of these recommendations," he added.

Steiner calls the resolution action oriented and says the Council will actively¹⁵ follow-up on its implementation.

More than 200,000 people are believed to have been killed since war in Darfur between the Sudanese-backed Arab militia¹⁶, called the Janjaweed, and rebels broke out in 2003. An estimated 2.5 million people have been internally displaced. Hundreds of thousands have become refugees.

The resolution also expresses regret that a high-level fact-finding mission, led by Nobel Laureate Jody Williams, could not visit Darfur. But it does not criticize Khartoum for refusing to grant visas to the six-member group.

Sudanese Ambassador Ibrahim Mohamed Kheir says Sudan will cooperate with the Council

"The Sudan government will prove itself as a country which is genuinely committed to cooperation, openness and engagement in a constructive¹⁷ dialogue," he said.

The resolution calls on Sudan to allow a new group of experts to investigate the human rights situation in the region and report back in June.

Human rights groups, such as Amnesty International and U.N. Watch, express disappointment at the Council's failure to condemn Sudan for its actions in Darfur.

1 mar   

vt.破坏，毁坏，弄糟

参考例句：

• It was not the custom for elderly people to mar the picnics with their presence.大人们照例不参加这样的野餐以免扫兴。
• Such a marriage might mar your career.这样的婚姻说不定会毁了你的一生。

2 condemn   

vt.谴责，指责；宣判(罪犯)，判刑

参考例句：

• Some praise him,whereas others condemn him.有些人赞扬他，而有些人谴责他。
• We mustn't condemn him on mere suppositions.我们不可全凭臆测来指责他。

3 diplomats   

n.外交官( diplomat的名词复数 )；有手腕的人，善于交际的人

参考例句：

• These events led to the expulsion of senior diplomats from the country. 这些事件导致一些高级外交官被驱逐出境。
• The court has no jurisdiction over foreign diplomats living in this country. 法院对驻本国的外交官无裁判权。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 atrocities   

n.邪恶，暴行( atrocity的名词复数 )；滔天大罪

参考例句：

• They were guilty of the most barbarous and inhuman atrocities. 他们犯有最野蛮、最灭绝人性的残暴罪行。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The enemy's atrocities made one boil with anger. 敌人的暴行令人发指。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

5 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

6 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

7 violations   

违反( violation的名词复数 )； 冒犯； 违反（行为、事例）； 强奸

参考例句：

• This is one of the commonest traffic violations. 这是常见的违反交通规则之例。
• These violations of the code must cease forthwith. 这些违犯法规的行为必须立即停止。

8 humanitarian   

n.人道主义者，博爱者，基督凡人论者

参考例句：

• She has many humanitarian interests and contributes a lot to them.她拥有很多慈善事业，并作了很大的贡献。
• The British government has now suspended humanitarian aid to the area.英国政府现已暂停对这一地区的人道主义援助。

9 civilians   

平民，百姓( civilian的名词复数 )； 老百姓

参考例句：

• the bloody massacre of innocent civilians 对无辜平民的血腥屠杀
• At least 300 civilians are unaccounted for after the bombing raids. 遭轰炸袭击之后，至少有300名平民下落不明。

10 presidency   

n.总统(校长，总经理)的职位(任期)

参考例句：

• Roosevelt was elected four times to the presidency of the United States.罗斯福连续当选四届美国总统。
• Two candidates are emerging as contestants for the presidency.两位候选人最终成为总统职位竞争者。

11 adoption   

n.采用，采纳，通过；收养

参考例句：

• An adoption agency had sent the boys to two different families.一个收养机构把他们送给两个不同的家庭。
• The adoption of this policy would relieve them of a tremendous burden.采取这一政策会给他们解除一个巨大的负担。

12 tangible   

adj.有形的，可触摸的，确凿的，实际的

参考例句：

• The policy has not yet brought any tangible benefits.这项政策还没有带来任何实质性的好处。
• There is no tangible proof.没有确凿的证据。

13 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。

14 implementation   

n.实施，贯彻

参考例句：

• Implementation of the program is now well underway.这一项目的实施现在行情看好。

15 actively   

adv.积极地，勤奋地

参考例句：

• During this period all the students were actively participating.在这节课中所有的学生都积极参加。
• We are actively intervening to settle a quarrel.我们正在积极调解争执。

16 militia   

n.民兵，民兵组织

参考例句：

• First came the PLA men,then the people's militia.人民解放军走在前面，其次是民兵。
• There's a building guarded by the local militia at the corner of the street.街道拐角处有一幢由当地民兵团守卫的大楼。

17 constructive   

adj.建设的，建设性的

参考例句：

• We welcome constructive criticism.我们乐意接受有建设性的批评。
• He is beginning to deal with his anger in a constructive way.他开始用建设性的方法处理自己的怒气。