VOA标准英语2009-Monira Rahman Fights for Life Free of Violen

By Vidushi Sinha
Washington
19 November 2009

It is an incredibly cruel act of violence -- acid thrown into the face of a woman, sometimes a child. Its perpetrators often are driven by revenge, jealousy¹ and hate; their intent, to disfigure rather than kill. Acid violence is common in several countries in Africa and Asia, including Bangladesh, where human rights advocate Monira Rahman is Making a Difference by campaigning to end the practice through herAcid Survivors² Foundation.

 
Monira Rahman
Participants are women who live with horrific scars because someone threw acid at them because of a rejected marriage proposal, a disputed land deal or some other issue. With their lives shattered, most hide in the shadows -- their faces covered, their spirits broken. But now they have an advocate in Monira Rahman.

For 17 years, Rahman's efforts have centered on ending discrimination, abuse and violence against women in Bangladesh through her Acid Survivors Foundation. She says that victims receive treatment at the foundation's 20-bed hospital and trauma³ center in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

"I was horrified⁴ and shocked, and couldn't understand how a human being could do this to another human being," Rahman says, "But I was also amazed to see the courage and strength of acid survivors and then I decided⁵ to walk with them."

Rahman says she marvels⁶ at the strength and optimism of the women she helps, and questions the mindset of men, and sometimes women, who condone⁷ acid violence.

 
With their lives shattered, most hide in the shadows -- their faces covered, their spirits broken
"Women are in a subordinate position and they are socially, economically, politically, culturally dependent on men," she explains, "Men are with this supreme⁸ power. They think that if they like this [i.e., women] -- it's their property. If they like it, they can keep it and if they don't, they can destroy it."

As executive director, Monira Rahman says her foundation has raised awareness⁹ and brought about institutional change in Bangladesh, including the passage of laws to discourage acid violence attacks.

"There was no law on acid violence issues. We have been able to advocate with government -- government has passed two laws -- one for the speedy trial of the perpetrators, another for controlling the availability of acid," she states.

Rahman's trauma center also helps the victims of acid violence to recover psychologically and economically. She says many victims come to view the center as a home away from home.

Monira Rahman and her foundation are giving hope, not only to the victims of gender-based violence in Bangladesh, but also to those who have suffered similar attacks in other parts of the world.

1 jealousy   

n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌

参考例句：

• Some women have a disposition to jealousy.有些女人生性爱妒忌。
• I can't support your jealousy any longer.我再也无法忍受你的嫉妒了。

2 survivors   

幸存者，残存者，生还者( survivor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The survivors were adrift in a lifeboat for six days. 幸存者在救生艇上漂流了六天。
• survivors clinging to a raft 紧紧抓住救生筏的幸存者

3 trauma   

n.外伤，精神创伤

参考例句：

• Counselling is helping him work through this trauma.心理辅导正帮助他面对痛苦。
• The phobia may have its root in a childhood trauma.恐惧症可能源于童年时期的创伤。

4 horrified   

a.(表现出)恐惧的

参考例句：

• The whole country was horrified by the killings. 全国都对这些凶杀案感到大为震惊。
• We were horrified at the conditions prevailing in local prisons. 地方监狱的普遍状况让我们震惊。

5 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

6 marvels   

n.奇迹( marvel的名词复数 )；令人惊奇的事物（或事例）；不平凡的成果；成就v.惊奇，对…感到惊奇( marvel的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• The doctor's treatment has worked marvels : the patient has recovered completely. 该医生妙手回春，病人已完全康复。 来自辞典例句
• Nevertheless he revels in a catalogue of marvels. 可他还是兴致勃勃地罗列了一堆怪诞不经的事物。 来自辞典例句

7 condone   

v.宽恕；原谅

参考例句：

• I cannot condone the use of violence.我不能宽恕使用暴力的行为。
• I will not condone a course of action that will lead us to war.我绝不允许任何导致战争的行为。

8 supreme   

adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的

参考例句：

• It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。

9 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。