VOA标准英语2010年-Small Arms Trafficking Continues to De

Africa's rebel movements rely on a vast, international network of supporters, who facilitate arms trafficking, money transfers and day-to-day operational support (file photo)

Trafficking in small arms and light weapons is on the rise in parts of Central Africa, say regional sources from the International Action Network against Light Weapons. Members of the group say this proliferation poses an increased threat to stability in the area.

Regional experts who work to combat arms trafficking recently met in Gabon to discuss the increasing threat posed by the proliferation of small arms and light weapons in Central Africa.

Based in Central African Republic, Christine Marie-Simon Abdoul is a member of the International Action Network against Light Weapons. She says CAR is one country that is a victim of arms trafficking, which causes suffering and the displacement¹ of residents.

She added that groups such as the Lord's Resistance Army now operate almost freely in the region and forcefully recruit new members.

Nono Booto'o Mouthe, also a member of the network, said the unwavering circulation of arms in Central Africa does not mean they are fighting a lost cause. She cites a case in 2008 when the group successfully lobbied for countries to prohibit a ship carrying arms to Zimbabwe from using their territorial² waters.

Earlier this year, an agreement known as the Kinshasa Convention was drafted by the U.N. Regional Center for Peace and Disarmament in Africa.

The convention, which is scheduled to be signed in November by the U.N. Regional Center for Peace and Disarmament in Africa, authorizes³ certain arms transfers among countries, but it subjects them to strict control. It would also prohibit the possession of light weapons by civilians⁴.
 

1 displacement   

n.移置，取代，位移，排水量

参考例句：

• They said that time is the feeling of spatial displacement.他们说时间是空间位移的感觉。
• The displacement of all my energy into caring for the baby.我所有精力都放在了照顾宝宝上。

2 territorial   

adj.领土的，领地的

参考例句：

• The country is fighting to preserve its territorial integrity.该国在为保持领土的完整而进行斗争。
• They were not allowed to fish in our territorial waters.不允许他们在我国领海捕鱼。

3 authorizes   

授权，批准，委托( authorize的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The dictionary authorizes the two spellings 'traveler' and 'traveller'. 字典裁定traveler和traveller两种拼法都对。
• The dictionary authorizes the two spellings "honor" and "honour.". 字典裁定 honor 及 honour 两种拼法均可。

4 civilians   

平民，百姓( civilian的名词复数 )； 老百姓

参考例句：

• the bloody massacre of innocent civilians 对无辜平民的血腥屠杀
• At least 300 civilians are unaccounted for after the bombing raids. 遭轰炸袭击之后，至少有300名平民下落不明。