VOA常速英语2018--第一次促进宗教自由的部长级会议（在线收听）

First Ever Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom

On July 24-26, the United States is hosting the first-ever Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom. Foreign ministers, international organization representatives, religious leaders, and civil society representatives are convened in Washington, D.C. to discuss concrete ways to combat religious persecution and discrimination and ensure greater respect for religious freedom around the world.

7月24至26日，美国举行了有史以来第一次促进宗教自由的部长级会议。各国外长、国际组织代表、宗教领袖和民间社会代表在华盛顿召开会议，讨论反对宗教迫害和歧视的具体办法，确保世界各地对宗教自由的更多尊重。

U.S. Ambassador for International Religious Freedom Sam Brownback called the ministerial “the launch of an expanded conversation” about the fundamental right of all individuals to do with their own souls whatever they choose.It is a right, he said, no government should interfere with:“It’s a right a government is instituted to protect…Not to pick a winner or loser; not to favor one religion over another.”

美国国际宗教自由大使Sam Brownback称此次部长级会议是“扩大对话的开始”，讨论的是所有人都有权用自己的灵魂做任何选择。他说，这是一种权利，任何政府都不应干涉:“这是一项政府应该建议机制保护的权利……而不是选择一个赢家或输家；不偏袒任何一种宗教。”

Ambassador Brownback said protecting and promoting religious freedom is the right thing to do because of the innate dignity of every human being; but there are also practical reasons to do so:“Countries that have more religious freedom have less terrorism…We wanna see the economy expand, and countries that have religious freedom have more growth in their economy.”

Brownback大使说，保护和促进宗教自由是正确的做法，因为每个人都有与生俱来的尊严；但这样做也有现实原因：“拥有更多宗教自由的国家恐怖主义较少……我们希望看到经济扩张的同时，拥有宗教自由的国家经济增长更多。”

Many governments say they value religious freedom, Ambassador Brownback said; the ministerial is an opportunity for countries to learn ways to put concrete actions behind the words:“They can appoint the ambassadors for religious freedom…They could host events in their nation or region…to promote religious freedom. They can form round tables with civil society groups, religious groups in their country…and government officials could regularly meet with them to hear what the concerns are of the faith-based community.”

Brownback大使说，许多政府都说他们重视宗教自由；部长级会议是各国学习如何不仅仅是说而是采取具体行动的机会：“他们可以任命宗教自由大使或特别为……他们可以在自己的国家或地区举办活动，以促进宗教自由。”他说：“他们可以与国内的民间团体、宗教团体组成圆桌会议……政府官员可以定期与他们会面，了解宗教团体的问题。”

Ambassador Brownback said that protecting and promoting religious freedom is in the United States’ founding DNA.The Ministerial to Advance Religious freedom is an opportunity for other nations to be encouraged to “take the next steps to really drive this further in their nation, in their region, amongst their people.”

Brownback大使说，保护和促进宗教自由是美国与生俱来就有的DNA。推动宗教自由的部长级会议是鼓励其他国家“采取下一步行动，在本国、本地区、其人民中间进一步推进这一进程”的机会。