VOA慢速英语2010年-Education Report - Before the G-20 Sum

This is the VOA Special English Education Report.

Leaders of the world's twenty largest economies will meet this Saturday and Sunday in Toronto, Canada. The Group of 20 will discuss the best ways to guide the world economy to a stronger recovery. The G-20 is nineteen countries and the European Union.

Last week, in Toronto, international charities held the first-ever Girls 20 Summit. The goal was to bring the economic power of girls and women, and the importance of women's issues, to the attention of G-20 leaders.

Organizers invited twenty young women from each of the G-20 member countries. They discussed the United Nations Millennium¹ Development Goals and better ways to meet them. The goals include cutting poverty, improving access to health care and providing education to all children.

Nineteen-year-old Anwar Basunbul from Saudi Arabia said many Saudi women are interested in working. But they need permission from their husband or other male guardian². And there are restrictions³ on the professions they can join.

ANWAR BASUNBUL: "Our culture still believes that men are biologically more qualified⁴ to lead or rule women."

Delegates of the G(irls) 20 Summit

She says the Saudi leadership has not failed women; Saudi women have not yet asked for what they want.

ANWAR BASUNBUL: "I believe women are not confident enough in my country to speak up. So I believe no one is going to come and give you the chance as a guest. You have to go and ask for it."

Irem Tumer was the nineteen-year-old representative from Turkey. She says Turkey has approved many legal reforms as part of its efforts to join the European Union -- but these have not necessarily been put into action. She worries about violence against women.

IREM TUMER: "Especially with the honor killings⁵ in the eastern parts. The safety of girls still remains⁶ a big problem. There have been laws that have been passed, and many police officers and other authorities are being trained about this. But more widespread awareness⁷ and education for all girls is necessary to tackle this issue."

Irem Tumer said she would carry home two messages from the Girls 20 Summit. The first is the need for education. The other is the need to empower women and let them take part in business and political decision-making.

The United Nations estimates that females age ten to twenty-four are one-eighth of the world's population. Many of them are the main providers for their families. Yet, in the developing world, many are unable to enjoy even the most basic human rights.

And that's the VOA Special English Education Report, with reporting by Cecily Hilleary and Jim Randle. You can read, listen and comment on our reports at voaspecialenglish.com. We're also on Facebook, Twitter and iTunes at VOA Learning English. I'm Steve Ember.

 

1 millennium   

n.一千年，千禧年；太平盛世

参考例句：

• The whole world was counting down to the new millennium.全世界都在倒计时迎接新千年的到来。
• We waited as the clock ticked away the last few seconds of the old millennium.我们静候着时钟滴答走过千年的最后几秒钟。

2 guardian   

n.监护人；守卫者，保护者

参考例句：

• The form must be signed by the child's parents or guardian. 这张表格须由孩子的家长或监护人签字。
• The press is a guardian of the public weal. 报刊是公共福利的卫护者。

3 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

4 qualified   

adj.合格的，有资格的，胜任的，有限制的

参考例句：

• He is qualified as a complete man of letters.他有资格当真正的文学家。
• We must note that we still lack qualified specialists.我们必须看到我们还缺乏有资质的专家。

5 killings   

谋杀( killing的名词复数 )； 突然发大财，暴发

参考例句：

• His statement was seen as an allusion to the recent drug-related killings. 他的声明被视为暗指最近与毒品有关的多起凶杀案。
• The government issued a statement condemning the killings. 政府发表声明谴责这些凶杀事件。

6 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

7 awareness   

n.意识，觉悟，懂事，明智

参考例句：

• There is a general awareness that smoking is harmful.人们普遍认识到吸烟有害健康。
• Environmental awareness has increased over the years.这些年来人们的环境意识增强了。