VOA慢速英语--联合国以及一些国家纪念国际妇女节

UN, Others Mark International Women's Day

Rights groups and government organizations around the world are recognizing International Women’s Day on Friday.

The day -- March 8 -- is a celebration of women’s social, economic, cultural and political successes in the world, as well as a call for gender¹ equality.

It all began in 1908 in New York City. Thousands of female clothing workers went on strike and marched through the streets of the city. They were demanding better pay, shorter workdays and voting rights.

In 1910, a German woman named Clara Zetkin suggested the declaration² of a Women’s Day at an international meeting attended by 100 women. The idea received support from everyone there.

Women’s Day was first celebrated³ in 1911 in Germany as well as Austria, Denmark and Switzerland. More than 1 million women and men attended demonstrations⁴ in support of a woman’s right to work, vote, study and hold public office.

The United Nations officially recognized International Women’s Day for the first time in 1975.

This year, the UN’s theme for the day is “Think equal, build smart, innovate⁵ for change.” The UN aims to use the day to bring attention to “public services, safe spaces and technology to advance progress for women and girls.”

Violences and other dangers

There are also new efforts centered on ending gender-based violence during war and ethnic⁶ conflicts. Last month, Red Cross and Red Crescent and the UN began working together to end the use of rape⁷ as a weapon of war.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said, “Sexual⁸ and gender-based violence in conflict is not only a horrendous⁹ and life-changing crime...It is also used as a tactic¹⁰ of war, to terrorize families, dehumanize communities and destabilize societies.”

Also last month, Sierra Leone President Julius Maada Bio declared rape a national emergency in his country. He warned that anyone caught having sex with a minor¹¹ could face up to life in prison.

He said, “These despicable crimes of sexual violence are being committed against our women, children and even babies."

On Wednesday, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) released its report on the five most dangerous place in the world to be a girl. They are: Niger, Yemen, Bangladesh, South Sudan and the Central African Republic. The report considered data on child marriage, birth rates among very young women, literacy¹², rates of violence and child labor¹³.

Nicole Behnam, director of IRC’s Violence Protection and Response office, said in a statement, “Until we achieve true gender equality, young girls will suffer the most. This is unacceptable and it’s why the IRC continues to advocate for changes that will improve the lives of girls everywhere.”

I’m Caty Weaver¹⁴.

Words in This Story

advance - v. to move forward

tactic - n. an action or method that is planned and used to achieve a particular goal

horrendous - adj. very bad or unpleasant

despicable - adj. very bad or unpleasant : deserving to be despised¹⁵

destabilize - v. to cause (something, such as a government) to be unable to continue existing or working in the usual or desired way

advocate - v. to support or argue for (a cause, policy, etc.)

1 gender   

n.（生理上的）性，（名词、代词等的）性

参考例句：

• French differs from English in having gender for all nouns.法语不同于英语，所有的名词都有性。
• Women are sometimes denied opportunities solely because of their gender.妇女有时仅仅因为性别而无法获得种种机会。

2 declaration   

n.宣布，宣告，宣言，声明（书），申报

参考例句：

• We read the declaration posted on the bulletin board.我们读了贴在布告板上的声明。
• At the recent convention a declaration was adopted.在最近举行的大会上通过了一项宣言。

3 celebrated   

adj.有名的，声誉卓著的

参考例句：

• He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.不久他就成了英格兰最负盛名的年轻画家之一。
• The celebrated violinist was mobbed by the audience.观众团团围住了这位著名的小提琴演奏家。

4 demonstrations   

证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威

参考例句：

• Lectures will be interspersed with practical demonstrations. 讲课中将不时插入实际示范。
• The new military government has banned strikes and demonstrations. 新的军人政府禁止罢工和示威活动。

5 innovate   

v.革新，变革，创始

参考例句：

• We must innovate in order to make progress.我们必须改革以便取得进步。
• It is necessary to innovate and develop military theories.创新和发展军事理论是必要的。

6 ethnic   

adj.人种的，种族的，异教徒的

参考例句：

• This music would sound more ethnic if you played it in steel drums.如果你用钢鼓演奏，这首乐曲将更具民族特色。
• The plan is likely only to aggravate ethnic frictions.这一方案很有可能只会加剧种族冲突。

7 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。

8 sexual   

adj.性的，两性的，性别的

参考例句：

• He was a person of gross sexual appetites.他是个性欲旺盛的人。
• It is socially irresponsible to refuse young people advice on sexual matters.拒绝向年轻人提供性方面的建议是对社会不负责任。

9 horrendous   

adj.可怕的，令人惊惧的

参考例句：

• He described it as the most horrendous experience of his life.他形容这是自己一生中最可怕的经历。
• The mining industry in China has a horrendous safety record.中国的煤矿工业具有令人不安的安全记录。

10 tactic   

n.战略，策略；adj.战术的，有策略的

参考例句：

• Reducing prices is a common sales tactic.降价是常用的销售策略。
• She had often used the tactic of threatening to resign.她惯用以辞职相威胁的手法。

11 minor   

adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修

参考例句：

• The young actor was given a minor part in the new play.年轻的男演员在这出新戏里被分派担任一个小角色。
• I gave him a minor share of my wealth.我把小部分财产给了他。

12 literacy   

n.识字，有文化，读写能力

参考例句：

• I can't believe that he failed the literacy test.我无法相信他识字测试不及格。
• The literacy rate there is the highest in Central America.那里的识字率居中美洲之首。

13 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
• He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。

14 weaver   

n.织布工；编织者

参考例句：

• She was a fast weaver and the cloth was very good.她织布织得很快，而且布的质量很好。
• The eager weaver did not notice my confusion.热心的纺织工人没有注意到我的狼狈相。

15 despised   

鄙视，看不起某人（某事）( despise的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• She despised gossip in any form. 她对任何形式的流言飞语都嗤之以鼻。
• He despised people who were lavish with their praises. 他看不起那些阿谀奉承的人。