VOA标准英语2018--伊朗没有对人口贩卖采取行动

Iran Fails to Act Against Human Trafficking

Once again, Iran is ranked with some of the worst places in the world in terms of the fight against human trafficking – the buying and selling of men, women and children in the labor¹ and commercial sex markets. According to the State Department's most recent Trafficking in Persons report, Iran is a “Tier 3” country -- like North Korea, Belarus, Syria and Venezuela, among others.

The State Department described Iran as “a source, transit², and destination country for men, women and children subject to sex trafficking and forced labor.”

Among the depredations³ committed in Iran, Iranian girls between 13 and 17 are targeted by traffickers for sale abroad. Afghan migrants and refugees, including children, are “highly vulnerable” to being trafficked for labor and sex. Afghan men are coerced⁴ by the IRGC into fighting in Syria. Organized criminal groups kidnap or purchase and force Iranian and migrant children to work as beggars. Temporary marriages for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation, lasting⁵ from one hour to one week, are reportedly on the rise.

Yet, the State Department notes, the Iranian government took no significant steps to address its “extensive trafficking problem.”

It did not initiate⁶ anti-trafficking investigations⁷; it made no efforts to prevent Iranian officials from forcing Afghan refugees into combat; it failed to provide appropriate protection services to trafficking victims. In fact, as Secretary of State Mike Pompeo observed at the report's release, trafficked individuals in Iran are treated like criminals:

“Trafficking victims are punished – the victims are punished – for acts they are forced to commit. For example, sex trafficking victims may face the death penalty for committing adultery. This is a horrible perversion⁸ of justice by a corrupt⁹ regime.”

Among other measures, the U.S. State Department is urging Iran to ensure that sex and labor trafficking victims are not punished for unlawful acts committed as a result of being trafficked; offer protection services to trafficking victims; prosecute¹⁰ sex trafficking and labor cases; and cease coercing¹¹ individuals into fighting its proxy¹² wars.

As Secretary of State Pompeo says, “Modern slavery has no place in the world.” Through diplomatic engagement, increased action, and attention, the United States, he promised, will continue to combat this global threat.

1 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。

2 transit   

n.经过，运输；vt.穿越，旋转；vi.越过

参考例句：

• His luggage was lost in transit.他的行李在运送中丢失。
• The canal can transit a total of 50 ships daily.这条运河每天能通过50条船。

3 depredations   

n.劫掠，毁坏( depredation的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Protect the nation's resources against the depredations of other countries. 保护国家资源，不容他人染指。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Hitler's early'successes\" were only the startling depredations of a resolute felon. 希特勒的早期“胜利”，只不过是一个死心塌地的恶棍出人意料地抢掠得手而已。 来自辞典例句

4 coerced   

v.迫使做( coerce的过去式和过去分词 )；强迫；（以武力、惩罚、威胁等手段）控制；支配

参考例句：

• They were coerced into negotiating a settlement. 他们被迫通过谈判解决。
• He was coerced into making a confession. 他被迫招供。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 lasting   

adj.永久的，永恒的；vbl.持续，维持

参考例句：

• The lasting war debased the value of the dollar.持久的战争使美元贬值。
• We hope for a lasting settlement of all these troubles.我们希望这些纠纷能获得永久的解决。

6 initiate   

vt.开始，创始，发动；启蒙，使入门；引入

参考例句：

• A language teacher should initiate pupils into the elements of grammar.语言老师应该把基本语法教给学生。
• They wanted to initiate a discussion on economics.他们想启动一次经济学讨论。

7 investigations   

（正式的）调查( investigation的名词复数 )； 侦查； 科学研究； 学术研究

参考例句：

• His investigations were intensive and thorough but revealed nothing. 他进行了深入彻底的调查，但没有发现什么。
• He often sent them out to make investigations. 他常常派他们出去作调查。

8 perversion   

n.曲解；堕落；反常

参考例句：

• In its most general sense,corruption means the perversion or abandonment.就其最一般的意义上说，舞弊就是堕落，就是背离准则。
• Her account was a perversion of the truth.她所讲的歪曲了事实。

9 corrupt   

v.贿赂，收买；adj.腐败的，贪污的

参考例句：

• The newspaper alleged the mayor's corrupt practices.那家报纸断言市长有舞弊行为。
• This judge is corrupt.这个法官贪污。

10 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？

11 coercing   

v.迫使做( coerce的现在分词 )；强迫；（以武力、惩罚、威胁等手段）控制；支配

参考例句：

• All of the children had atopic dermatis coercing at least 20% of their body surface area. 所有的患儿体表有超过20%的遗传性过敏症皮炎感染。 来自互联网
• I assured him that we had no intention of coercing Israel in response a Soviet threat. 我向他保证，我们无意强迫以色列对苏联的威胁做出反映。 来自互联网

12 proxy   

n.代理权，代表权；（对代理人的）委托书；代理人

参考例句：

• You may appoint a proxy to vote for you.你可以委托他人代你投票。
• We enclose a form of proxy for use at the Annual General Meeting.我们附上委任年度大会代表的表格。