VOA双语新闻:5、联合国纪念国际人权日(在线收听

 

联合国纪念国际人权日

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 promotion and protection of human rights for all and creating the post of U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights.

12月10日星期二是国际人权日。今年联合国纪念签署维也纳宣言二十周年,各国在这项宣言中承诺推动和保护普世人权并且设立了联合国人权高级事务专员的职位。

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

孩子们上学读书似乎是理所当然的事情。但是塔利班对少女马拉拉.优萨福扎伊的攻击告诉世界,上学并非一个想当然就能拥有的权利。

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.

联合国秘书长潘基文说,全世界有5700万儿童不能上学,其中很多人生活在冲突地区,他们大部分是女孩。

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

他说: “任何一个孩子都不能因为去上学而失去生命。任何一个地方的教师都不应害怕讲课,孩子不应害怕学习。”

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

按照维也纳宣言的愿景,人人都应享有接受教育的权利,保护儿童权利,并消除针对妇女的暴力以及铲除贫困。

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

联合国负责人权事务的助理秘书长伊万·西蒙诺维奇说,1993年的维也纳宣言带来了巨大的变化。

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

他说:“这一事件的确把人权推到了全球议事日程的前台。”

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

不过,人权观察的菲利普·波洛皮恩说,虽然有进步,但斗争仍在继续。

"On a day like today, it is hard not to think about civilians 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 tragic failures and it is often civilians who are paying the price,” said Bolopion.

他说:“在今天这样的日子里,很难不会联想到困在叙利亚或者中非共和国的平民百姓。他们可能觉得国际社会辜负了他们。人权在联合国被推到前台,所有这些固然都是进步,可是仍然有悲剧性的失败,而付出代价的经常是平民百姓。”

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

西蒙诺维奇说,践踏人权通常是冲突的第一个迹象。

“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?.

他说: “如果我们及时行动,就有可能加以制止。目前,秘书长正在推出一项新的行动方案,叫做‘首要当先’,在防止正在抬头的冲突的努力过程中,把人权置于核心地位。”

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

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 defenders, including a Moroccan journalist and Pakistani education activist Malala Yousafzai.

在“国际人权日”,联合国表彰五名维权人士,包括一名摩洛哥记者和年轻的巴基斯坦教育权利活动人士马拉拉。

  原文地址:http://www.tingroom.com/lesson/voabn/2013/12/241146.html