VOA标准英语2009年-ICRC Calls for Greater Compliance with Gen

The International Committee of the Red Cross is calling for greater compliance¹ with the rules of war by states and armed groups around the world. As the ICRC marks the 60th anniversary of the four Geneva Conventions on August 12, the Swiss humanitarian² agency warns that many of the laws enacted³ in 1949 to protect civilians⁵ and other vulnerable people caught in war are not being respected. The Conventions set out rules governing the conduct of international wars. But since 1949, these wars have increasingly given way to civil conflicts and few of the rules in the Conventions apply to them.
　
Jakob Kellenberger, President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) during a press conference at the ICRC headquarters in Geneva, 11 Aug. 2009

International Committee of the Red Cross President Jakob Kellenberger, says the Geneva Conventions are still relevant. But he agrees that far too many of the laws of war are being violated.

Although Kellenberger says Red Cross delegates in the field regularly witness violations⁶ ranging from the mass displacement⁷ of civilians to indiscriminate attacks and ill treatment of civilians, he notes it is not the norm.

"I would simply like to say it would be quite a wrong impression if one were to think that the violations are the rule and the respect of the law is the exception," Kellenberger said.

Kellenberger says Red Cross delegates intervene in conflicts all over the world and they are instrumental in improving conditions of detention⁸ and preventing the forcible return of displaced people to their homes.

He says more and more armed conflicts are taking place in civilian⁴ areas, not in separate battlefields. This not only increases the risk to civilians, he says, but it makes it more difficult to distinguish between combatants and civilians.

Kellenberger says it is vitally important that this distinction be made because a growing number of civilians are being deliberately⁹ targeted due to their supposed involvement in hostilities¹⁰.

"If you are interpreting this concept too widely, far too many civilians become lawful¹¹ targets," Kellenberger said. "So if you want to maximize the protection of civilians, it is very important to have a very clear and narrow definition of direct participation¹² of hostilities."

Kellenberger says he does not think that respect for international humanitarian law has weakened globally. But he acknowledges that in some respects the Geneva Conventions have been undermined since the terrorist attacks in the United States in 2001.

Analysts¹³ say the relevance¹⁴ of international humanitarian law is supported by the findings of a recent opinion poll that surveyed 4,000 people across eight war-torn countries. The survey indicates that while people believe the Geneva Conventions are important and should be respected, rules of war should be better enforced.

1 compliance   

n.顺从；服从；附和；屈从

参考例句：

• I was surprised by his compliance with these terms.我对他竟然依从了这些条件而感到吃惊。
• She gave up the idea in compliance with his desire.她顺从他的愿望而放弃自己的主意。

2 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。

3 enacted   

制定（法律），通过（法案）( enact的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• legislation enacted by parliament 由议会通过的法律
• Outside in the little lobby another scene was begin enacted. 外面的小休息室里又是另一番景象。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹

4 civilian   

adj.平民的，民用的，民众的

参考例句：

• There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
• He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。

5 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。

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 displacement   

n.移置，取代，位移，排水量

参考例句：

• They said that time is the feeling of spatial displacement.他们说时间是空间位移的感觉。
• The displacement of all my energy into caring for the baby.我所有精力都放在了照顾宝宝上。

8 detention   

n.滞留，停留；拘留，扣留；(教育)留下

参考例句：

• He was kept in detention by the police.他被警察扣留了。
• He was in detention in connection with the bribery affair.他因与贿赂事件有牵连而被拘留了。

9 deliberately   

adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地

参考例句：

• The girl gave the show away deliberately.女孩故意泄露秘密。
• They deliberately shifted off the argument.他们故意回避这个论点。

10 hostilities   

n.战争；敌意(hostility的复数)；敌对状态；战事

参考例句：

• Mexico called for an immediate cessation of hostilities. 墨西哥要求立即停止敌对行动。
• All the old hostilities resurfaced when they met again. 他们再次碰面时，过去的种种敌意又都冒了出来。

11 lawful   

adj.法律许可的，守法的，合法的

参考例句：

• It is not lawful to park in front of a hydrant.在消火栓前停车是不合法的。
• We don't recognised him to be the lawful heir.我们不承认他为合法继承人。

12 participation   

n.参与，参加，分享

参考例句：

• Some of the magic tricks called for audience participation.有些魔术要求有观众的参与。
• The scheme aims to encourage increased participation in sporting activities.这个方案旨在鼓励大众更多地参与体育活动。

13 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

14 relevance   

n.中肯，适当，关联，相关性

参考例句：

• Politicians' private lives have no relevance to their public roles.政治家的私生活与他们的公众角色不相关。
• Her ideas have lost all relevance to the modern world.她的想法与现代社会完全脱节。