2006年VOA标准英语-UN Probes Allegations of Sex Abuse By Aid

By Franz Wild
Abidjan
08 May 2006
 
A study by the Britian-based aid group, Save the Children, says humanitarian¹ workers and peacekeepers in Liberia are sexually exploiting girls as young as eight. The United Nations says it has been addressing the issue.

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Liberian girl is reflected in a piece of mirror as she poses in her home in the refugee camp in Monrovia  
  

The report, published Monday, says young girls in refugee camps are routinely being sexually exploited by humanitarian workers, peacekeepers and local businessmen.

The study found that girls are exchanging sex for basic necessities, such as food and education. Save the Children says many 12-year-olds are believed to have regular sexual relations with men, but even some as young as eight have been involved.

A Liberian girl interviewed by VOA confirmed this practice takes place, saying it is the only way she can pay school fees.

Liberia is in the process of rebuilding after its 14-year civil war ended in 2003. Many children lost their parents in the war and have to fend² for themselves, with unemployment at around 80 percent.

In 2002, the United Nations and non-governmental organizations committed themselves to codes of conduct, which would ensure that staff was more carefully monitored regarding such malpractices. Save the Children says these codes are not being enforced, and the issue needs to be made a priority by top management.

Martin Kirk, political advisor³ for Save the Children, says the perpetrators are supposed to be protecting the children.

"That is one of the saddest aspects of this," he said. "These men who are in positions of power over children's lives are the very ones, who are turning 'round and abusing them. We think this is an absolute disgrace, and needs to become a priority for all the international organizations and for the U.N. But it is also a problem with local people, as well, with local businessmen and local teachers."

Kirk says these practices are now so commonplace that the children's parents are accepting them as a necessary means of survival.

"We are starting to see trends whereby families are accepting the fact that their young girls are having to rely on selling their bodies in return for such basic things that you and I take for granted, like food, and even from their teachers for an education," he explained. "It does seem to be normalizing itself in society, which makes it a very difficult thing to tackle."

A U.N. spokesperson in New York said the U.N. takes the issue very seriously, and has taken many measures in the last few years to clamp down on such behavior.

The official also said he did not feel the report reflected the current state of affairs. He said some of the details outlined in the report had been dealt with by the U.N.

Last year, the United Nations introduced a zero-tolerance policy for sexual exploitation, in the wake of recurring⁴ scandals involving sexual abuse by U.N. staff, particularly in West and Central Africa.

Research for the study was carried out in four locations, villages and camps for internally displaced people. Many camp-dwellers, especially around the Monrovia area, are returning to their villages in the country. Kirk says the practice of using sex to acquire basic necessities is finding its way back to the villages with many of the girls.

Last September, Save the Children was embroiled⁵ in a scandal in Liberia, when it released a similar report, claiming between 60 and 80 percent of Monrovia's schoolgirls sold sex to pay school fees. The transitional Liberian government questioned the report's credibility, demanding its withdrawal⁶, and threatened to expel the group from Liberia.

Before her election late last year, Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, focused during her campaign on women's issues, and promised to strengthen the legal system to prosecute⁷ anyone who commits rape⁸. She has since launched a comprehensive rape awareness⁹ campaign.

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 fend   

v.照料（自己），（自己）谋生，挡开，避开

参考例句：

• I've had to fend for myself since I was 14.我从十四岁时起就不得不照料自己。
• He raised his arm up to fend branches from his eyes.他举手将树枝从他眼前挡开。

3 advisor   

n.顾问，指导老师，劝告者

参考例句：

• They employed me as an advisor.他们聘请我当顾问。
• The professor is engaged as a technical advisor.这位教授被聘请为技术顾问。

4 recurring   

adj.往复的，再次发生的

参考例句：

• This kind of problem is recurring often. 这类问题经常发生。
• For our own country, it has been a time for recurring trial. 就我们国家而言，它经过了一个反复考验的时期。

5 embroiled   

adj.卷入的；纠缠不清的

参考例句：

• He became embroiled in a dispute with his neighbours. 他与邻居们发生了争执。
• John and Peter were quarrelling, but Mary refused to get embroiled. 约翰和彼得在争吵，但玛丽不愿卷入。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 withdrawal   

n.取回，提款；撤退，撤军；收回，撤销

参考例句：

• The police were forced to make a tactical withdrawal.警方被迫进行战术撤退。
• They insisted upon a withdrawal of the statement and a public apology.他们坚持要收回那些话并公开道歉。

7 prosecute   

vt.告发；进行；vi.告发，起诉，作检察官

参考例句：

• I am trying my best to prosecute my duties.我正在尽力履行我的职责。
• Is there enough evidence to prosecute?有没有起诉的足够证据？

8 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。

9 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。