VOA标准英语2013--联合国纪念世界人权宣言20周年

 

UN Marks 20th Anniversary of Human Rights Declaration 联合国纪念世界人权宣言20周年

UNITED NATIONS — On this year’s International Human Rights Day, on December 10, the United Nations will mark the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Vienna  Declaration, committing states to the promotion¹ and protection of human rights for all and creating the post of U.N. High Commissioner² for Human Rights.

Some things in life may be taken for granted, such as the ability to receive an education, but as the Taliban attack on teen activist³ Malala Yousafzai taught the world  last year, school is a right that can't be taken for granted.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said 57 million children worldwide do not attend school. Many of them live in conflict zones, and most are girls.

“No child should have to die for going to school. Nowhere should teachers fear to teach or children fear to learn,” said Ban.

The right to an education, the rights of children, the elimination⁴ of violence against women, and the eradication⁵ of poverty were envisioned for all people by the  Vienna Declaration.

U.N. Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights Ivan ?imonovi? said the 1993 declaration was a game changer.

“It was an event that really moved human rights to the forefront of the global agenda,” said ?imonovi?.

However, despite advances, Human Rights Watch’s Philippe Bolopion pointed⁶ out that the fight still continues.

"On a day like today, it is hard not to think about civilians⁷ trapped in Syria or in the Central African Republic who probably feel that the international community is  failing them. And they are right. Despite all the progress we have seen at the U.N. in terms of putting human rights to the front, there are still tragic⁸ failures and  it is often civilians who are paying the price,” said Bolopion.

?imonovi? maintained that human rights abuses are often the first sign of conflict.

“If we act timely, we might be able to prevent them. The Secretary-General is just right now rolling out a new action plan called Rights Up Front. It puts human  rights in the center of prevention of emerging conflict,” explained ?imonovi?.

Governments are responsible for protecting human rights, yet in Syria and the Central African Republic, the authorities are among those accused of atrocities⁹.

HRW’s Bolopion recently visited the CAR and said he met many people whose relatives were killed by former rebels who are now in power.

“Too often it is the governments themselves who are responsible for very serious abuses against their population, and when that happens they need to be stopped by the  international community,” said Bolopion.

On International Human Rights Day, the U.N. is honoring five rights defenders¹⁰, including a Moroccan journalist and Pakistani education activist Malala Yousafzai. 

1 promotion   

n.提升，晋级；促销，宣传

参考例句：

• The teacher conferred with the principal about Dick's promotion.教师与校长商谈了迪克的升级问题。
• The clerk was given a promotion and an increase in salary.那个职员升了级，加了薪。

2 commissioner   

n.（政府厅、局、处等部门）专员，长官，委员

参考例句：

• The commissioner has issued a warrant for her arrest.专员发出了对她的逮捕令。
• He was tapped for police commissioner.他被任命为警务处长。

3 activist   

n.活动分子，积极分子

参考例句：

• He's been a trade union activist for many years.多年来他一直是工会的积极分子。
• He is a social activist in our factory.他是我厂的社会活动积极分子。

4 elimination   

n.排除，消除，消灭

参考例句：

• Their elimination from the competition was a great surprise.他们在比赛中遭到淘汰是个很大的意外。
• I was eliminated from the 400 metres in the semi-finals.我在400米半决赛中被淘汰。

5 eradication   

n.根除

参考例句：

• The eradication of an established infestation is not easy. 根除昆虫蔓延是不容易的。
• This is often required for intelligent control and eradication. 这经常需要灵巧的控制与消除。

6 pointed   

adj.尖的，直截了当的

参考例句：

• He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
• She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。

7 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。

8 tragic   

adj.悲剧的，悲剧性的，悲惨的

参考例句：

• The effect of the pollution on the beaches is absolutely tragic.污染海滩后果可悲。
• Charles was a man doomed to tragic issues.查理是个注定不得善终的人。

9 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》

10 defenders   

n.防御者( defender的名词复数 )；守卫者；保护者；辩护者

参考例句：

• The defenders were outnumbered and had to give in. 抵抗者寡不敌众，只能投降。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• After hard fighting,the defenders were still masters of the city. 守军经过奋战仍然控制着城市。 来自《简明英汉词典》