VOA标准英语2008年-US Lawmaker Seeks Bill to Address Crimes Agains

A member of Congress says there is no U.S. law that allows for the prosecution¹ of people living in the United States who have committed crimes against humanity in other countries. Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois, the second highest-ranking Democrat² in the Senate, wants to change that, as VOA's Deborah Tate reports from Capitol Hill.
　
Capitol Hill

Senator Durbin wants to prevent the United States from becoming a safe-haven for war criminals.

At a Senate Judiciary subcommittee hearing Tuesday, Durbin said there is a loophole in U.S. law that prevents the Justice Department from taking action against those living in the United States who have committed crimes against humanity. He said if a foreign warlord who had engaged in mass rape³ came to the United States, he would be beyond the reach of U.S. law.

"Despite long-standing U.S. support for prosecution of crimes against humanity perpetrated in World War II, Rwanda, the former Yugoslavia and Sierra Leone, among other places, there is no U.S. law prohibiting crimes against humanity," he noted⁴. "As a result, the U.S. government is unable to prosecute⁵ perpetrators of crimes against humanity found in our own country."

Durbin is seeking legislation to close that loophole and he has bipartisan support.

"This issue is one of enormous importance," said Senator Arlen, a Pennsylvania Republican.

It is not clear when such legislation would be introduced. Both the Senate and House of the Representative would have to act on the measure before it could be sent to the president for his signature.

Senator Durbin noted that other grave human rights violations⁶, including genocide and torture, are crimes under U.S. laws. In fact, he was chief sponsor of a law signed by President Bush last December that closed a loophole that had prevented U.S. authorities from prosecuting⁷ individuals in the United States who took part in genocide in other countries.

　

 

1 prosecution   

n.起诉，告发，检举，执行，经营

参考例句：

• The Smiths brought a prosecution against the organizers.史密斯家对组织者们提出起诉。
• He attempts to rebut the assertion made by the prosecution witness.他试图反驳原告方证人所作的断言。

2 democrat   

n.民主主义者，民主人士；民主党党员

参考例句：

• The Democrat and the Public criticized each other.民主党人和共和党人互相攻击。
• About two years later,he was defeated by Democrat Jimmy Carter.大约两年后，他被民主党人杰米卡特击败。

3 rape   

n.抢夺，掠夺，强奸；vt.掠夺，抢夺，强奸

参考例句：

• The rape of the countryside had a profound ravage on them.对乡村的掠夺给他们造成严重创伤。
• He was brought to court and charged with rape.他被带到法庭并被指控犯有强奸罪。

4 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。

5 prosecute   

vt.告发；进行；vi.告发，起诉，作检察官

参考例句：

• I am trying my best to prosecute my duties.我正在尽力履行我的职责。
• Is there enough evidence to prosecute?有没有起诉的足够证据？

6 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。

7 prosecuting   

检举、告发某人( prosecute的现在分词 )； 对某人提起公诉； 继续从事（某事物）； 担任控方律师

参考例句：

• The witness was cross-examined by the prosecuting counsel. 证人接受控方律师的盘问。
• Every point made by the prosecuting attorney was telling. 检查官提出的每一点都是有力的。