2007年VOA标准英语-NGOs Play Larger Role in World Affairs

By Jela De Franceschi
Washington
13 July 2007
 

Most analysts¹ say non-governmental organizations play an important role in world affairs -- ranging from resolving civil conflicts to safeguarding the environment.  In Focus, VOA's Jela de Franceschi looks at this growing trend.

Most foreign policy experts refer to leading transnational NGOs as "non-state actors," acknowledging their growing clout² in the international arena³.

One such organization is Human Rights Watch, the largest human rights monitoring group based in the United States.

Kenneth Roth

"Our job is to try to defend human rights around the world" says Kenneth Roth, executive director of Human Rights Watch in New York. He says his organization documents human rights abuses of governments and rebel groups. “And these reports are used to pressure governments to respect human rights through stigmatizing⁴ them or shaming them before their public and their peers, through generating economic or diplomatic pressure on abusive governments and, in extreme cases, by trying to prosecute⁵ officials who have been responsible for the most serious human rights crimes."

Human Rights Watch works with partners in 70 countries.   In the United States, it monitors issues of race discrimination, and the status of immigrants and prison inmates⁶.  

Roth says the biggest challenge his organization faces is the disrespect for human rights that sometimes accompanies efforts to fight terrorism. "Governments have recognized that if they simply wave the flag of counterterrorism, that that gives them latitude⁷ to ignore international human rights requirements.  The human rights movement is being able [has been able] to push back and insist that respecting human rights is not only the right thing to do in fighting terrorism, but is also the more effective way to go about combating terrorism."

In recent years, economic globalization has given more weight to NGOs dedicated⁸ to promoting market-oriented reforms. 

John Sullivan

John Sullivan is executive director of the Center for International Private Enterprise, or CIPE. He says volunteer organizations like his believe democratic and economic reforms are two sides of the same coin. "In all of Eastern Europe, it was the political reforms that led to the economic reforms in the sense that the political process was totally closed.  You couldn't do anything.  So getting that open was the first step.  In other countries, Afghanistan, for example, getting some of the fundamental economic laws in place is what enables people to have the ability to participate in the political process."    

John Sullivan says CIPE tries to team up with like-minded organizations around the world. "We go to a country and try to find a partner that we can work with.  And they are the ones that lay out the agenda of what needs to be done and where the reform process needs to go."  

Sullivan says that in an ever-more globalized world, NGOs like his will play increasingly important roles in transferring knowledge and expertise⁹.

1 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

2 clout   

n.用手猛击；权力，影响力

参考例句：

• The queen may have privilege but she has no real political clout.女王有特权，但无真正的政治影响力。
• He gave the little boy a clout on the head.他在那小男孩的头部打了一下。

3 arena   

n.竞技场，运动场所；竞争场所，舞台

参考例句：

• She entered the political arena at the age of 25. 她25岁进入政界。
• He had not an adequate arena for the exercise of his talents.他没有充分发挥其才能的场所。

4 stigmatizing   

v.使受耻辱，指责，污辱( stigmatize的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Laing regards the concept of mental illness as both unscientific and stigmatizing. 菜恩认为精神病的概念是不科学的和诬蔑性的。 来自辞典例句
• The existing social benefits are considered to be stigmatizing and repressive. 现存的社会福利被指责为是无价值的、残暴的。 来自互联网

5 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？

6 inmates   

n.囚犯( inmate的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• One of the inmates has escaped. 被收容的人中有一个逃跑了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The inmates were moved to an undisclosed location. 监狱里的囚犯被转移到一个秘密处所。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 latitude   

n.纬度，行动或言论的自由(范围)，(pl.)地区

参考例句：

• The latitude of the island is 20 degrees south.该岛的纬度是南纬20度。
• The two cities are at approximately the same latitude.这两个城市差不多位于同一纬度上。

8 dedicated   

adj.一心一意的；献身的；热诚的

参考例句：

• He dedicated his life to the cause of education.他献身于教育事业。
• His whole energies are dedicated to improve the design.他的全部精力都放在改进这项设计上了。

9 expertise   

n.专门知识(或技能等)，专长

参考例句：

• We were amazed at his expertise on the ski slopes.他斜坡滑雪的技能使我们赞叹不已。
• You really have the technical expertise in a new breakthrough.让你真正在专业技术上有一个全新的突破。