VOA标准英语2009年-IOM Launches New Campaign to End Human Tra

By Lisa Schlein
Geneva
19 October 2009

 

 
The International Organization for Migration¹ is urging consumers not to buy products made by migrants exploited for their cheap labor². The IOM is launching a global campaign to end human trafficking. It begins in Europe where large numbers of people are trafficked, but eventually will expand to other regions of the world. 

This video challenges consumers to think about their purchasing habits and how they might be encouraging the exploitation of migrants.

Richard Danziger is head of the Global Counter Trafficking Program at the International Organization for Migration. He says poverty, gender³ inequality, and conflict contribute to human trafficking, but it is the demand for unreasonably⁴ cheap labor and cheap goods that drive this unscrupulous trade. 

He says the campaign aims to change consumer behavior through the use of soft power, not hard power.

"We are not asking people to boycott⁵ a particular brand or boycott a particular super market or chain store," Danziger said. "We are simply asking people to find out what lies behind the products they buy. We are asking people to buy responsibly." 

The International Labor Organization estimates 12.3 million people are in forced or bonded⁶ labor and sexual servitude around the world. 

Danziger says stories about human trafficking usually focus on women and girls used for sexual exploitation. But he says both men and women are trafficked for labor exploitation. 

He says there have been large increases in the last five years in the trafficking of men and boys to work in the agricultural, construction, fishing and domestic service sector⁷. 

"We estimate, based on some ILO [International Labor Organization] figures that in industrialized countries there are over 100,000 trafficked migrant workers," Danziger said. "So, severely⁸ exploited migrant workers. If they were paid their back wages, the wages they are due, it could come to something like $2.5 billion. So, we are talking about large sums. Throughout the world, there is an estimate by the ILO of what we call stolen wages of almost $20 billion." 

Danziger says consumers are increasingly demanding fair trade. They are asking that the products they buy are produced according to ethical⁹ standards. 

He says the campaign hopes to tap into these sentiments by raising awareness¹⁰ of the many products and services that result from trafficked and exploited labor. 

He says consumers have the power to end labor exploitation by buying responsibly and by pressuring businesses and retailers¹¹ to operate in an ethical manner. 

1 migration   

n.迁移，移居，（鸟类等的）迁徙

参考例句：

• Swallows begin their migration south in autumn.燕子在秋季开始向南方迁移。
• He described the vernal migration of birds in detail.他详细地描述了鸟的春季移居。

2 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
• He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。

3 gender   

n.（生理上的）性，（名词、代词等的）性

参考例句：

• French differs from English in having gender for all nouns.法语不同于英语，所有的名词都有性。
• Women are sometimes denied opportunities solely because of their gender.妇女有时仅仅因为性别而无法获得种种机会。

4 unreasonably   

adv. 不合理地

参考例句：

• He was also petty, unreasonably querulous, and mean. 他还是个气量狭窄，无事生非，平庸刻薄的人。
• Food in that restaurant is unreasonably priced. 那家饭店价格不公道。

5 boycott   

n./v.(联合)抵制，拒绝参与

参考例句：

• We put the production under a boycott.我们联合抵制该商品。
• The boycott lasts a year until the Victoria board permitsreturn.这个抗争持续了一年直到维多利亚教育局妥协为止。

6 bonded   

n.有担保的，保税的，粘合的

参考例句：

• The whisky was taken to bonded warehouses at Port Dundee.威士忌酒已送到邓迪港的保稅仓库。
• This adhesive must be applied to both surfaces which are to be bonded together.要粘接的两个面都必须涂上这种黏合剂。

7 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

8 severely   

adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地

参考例句：

• He was severely criticized and removed from his post.他受到了严厉的批评并且被撤了职。
• He is severely put down for his careless work.他因工作上的粗心大意而受到了严厉的批评。

9 ethical   

adj.伦理的，道德的，合乎道德的

参考例句：

• It is necessary to get the youth to have a high ethical concept.必须使青年具有高度的道德观念。
• It was a debate which aroused fervent ethical arguments.那是一场引发强烈的伦理道德争论的辩论。

10 awareness   

n.意识，觉悟，懂事，明智

参考例句：

• There is a general awareness that smoking is harmful.人们普遍认识到吸烟有害健康。
• Environmental awareness has increased over the years.这些年来人们的环境意识增强了。

11 retailers   

零售商，零售店( retailer的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• High street retailers reported a marked increase in sales before Christmas. 商业街的零售商报告说圣诞节前销售量显著提高。
• Retailers have a statutory duty to provide goods suitable for their purpose. 零售商有为他们提供符合要求的货品的法定义务。