2006年VOA标准英语-International Call for Action To Combat Violenc

By Lisa Schlein
Geneva
25 November 2006

The United Nations, governments and humanitarian¹ organizations are calling for stepped up action to combat violence against women. To mark the International Day for the Elimination² of Violence Against Women, activists³ are demanding that countries enact⁴ and enforce legislation against a wide range of abuse from rape⁵ to wife battering⁶. Lisa Schlein reports for VOA from Geneva.

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Women's rights campaigners agree there is no region of the world, no country and no culture in which women are free from violence.

They say acts of violence against women are among the most important obstacles to the advancement⁷ of women and are a fundamental violation⁸ of their basic human rights.

Kareen Jabre, an official at the Inter-Parliamentary Union - an organization of 149 national parliaments, says tradition and culture often act as stumbling blocks to women's rights.

She says these beliefs sometimes appear to condone⁹ violence against women. But, she notes violence against women exists everywhere. It is a cross cutting issue.

She said, "Whether it is more visible maybe in Islamic countries because ... you have practices like honor killings¹⁰ and female genital mutilation which is not linked to Muslim countries, but more on the African continent.

"You also have domestic violence which is a major issue and which exists in developed countries. And, this is as great an issue to address as other types of violence because it is a hidden one," she added.

Jabre says the Inter-Parliamentary Union has adopted a resolution calling for governments to pass laws making abuses such as rape, sexual slavery, enforced prostitution and other forms of sexual violence forbidden by law.

She says Parliaments have a lot of tools in their hands, which they can use to further the cause of women's rights.

For instance, she says national parliaments have the power of the purse. They can use their control over budgets to fund policies that combat violence against women.

"One can think of ratification¹¹ of national instruments, but also that condemn¹² violence against women," she said. "Or reviewing legislation which is contravening¹³ to women's rights or which is not promoting equality between men and women, facilitating women's access to education, health and their access to land and property."

A study by the U.N. Development Fund for Women shows progress in terms of legislation for women is being made.

In 2003, it finds only 45 countries had specific legislation against domestic violence. Today, it notes 60 countries have such legislation on the books and 89 states have enacted¹⁴ laws against violence in general.

1 humanitarian   

n.人道主义者，博爱者，基督凡人论者

参考例句：

• She has many humanitarian interests and contributes a lot to them.她拥有很多慈善事业，并作了很大的贡献。
• The British government has now suspended humanitarian aid to the area.英国政府现已暂停对这一地区的人道主义援助。

2 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。

3 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 enact   

vt.制定(法律)；上演，扮演

参考例句：

• The U.S. Congress has exclusive authority to enact federal legislation.美国国会是唯一有权颁布联邦法律的。
• For example,a country can enact laws and economic policies to attract foreign investment fairly quickly.例如一个国家可以很快颁布吸引外资的法令和经济政策。

5 rape   

n.抢夺，掠夺，强奸；vt.掠夺，抢夺，强奸

参考例句：

• The rape of the countryside had a profound ravage on them.对乡村的掠夺给他们造成严重创伤。
• He was brought to court and charged with rape.他被带到法庭并被指控犯有强奸罪。

6 battering   

n.用坏，损坏v.连续猛击( batter的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• The film took a battering from critics in the US. 该影片在美国遭遇到批评家的猛烈抨击。
• He kept battering away at the door. 他接连不断地砸门。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 advancement   

n.前进，促进，提升

参考例句：

• His new contribution to the advancement of physiology was well appreciated.他对生理学发展的新贡献获得高度赞赏。
• The aim of a university should be the advancement of learning.大学的目标应是促进学术。

8 violation   

n.违反(行为)，违背(行为)，侵犯

参考例句：

• He roared that was a violation of the rules.他大声说，那是违反规则的。
• He was fined 200 dollars for violation of traffic regulation.他因违反交通规则被罚款200美元。

9 condone   

v.宽恕；原谅

参考例句：

• I cannot condone the use of violence.我不能宽恕使用暴力的行为。
• I will not condone a course of action that will lead us to war.我绝不允许任何导致战争的行为。

10 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。

11 ratification   

n.批准，认可

参考例句：

• The treaty is awaiting ratification.条约正等待批准。
• The treaty is subject to ratification.此条约经批准后才能生效。

12 condemn   

vt.谴责，指责；宣判(罪犯)，判刑

参考例句：

• Some praise him,whereas others condemn him.有些人赞扬他，而有些人谴责他。
• We mustn't condemn him on mere suppositions.我们不可全凭臆测来指责他。

13 contravening   

v.取消，违反( contravene的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• The company was found guilty of contravening safety regulations. 那家公司被判违反了安全条例。
• You are contravening the regulations. 你违反了规定。 来自辞典例句

14 enacted   

制定（法律），通过（法案）( enact的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• legislation enacted by parliament 由议会通过的法律
• Outside in the little lobby another scene was begin enacted. 外面的小休息室里又是另一番景象。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹