2007年VOA标准英语-UN General Assembly Passes Declaration on Indig

By Margaret Besheer
United Nations
13 September 2007

The United Nations General Assembly has adopted a non-binding declaration on the rights of native peoples, despite opposition¹ from the United States and three other countries. From U.N. headquarters in New York, VOA's Margaret Besheer has more.

United Nations Assembly

The 143 members of the General Assembly voted for the declaration that outlines the rights of some 370 million indigenous² people worldwide.

Only the United States, Canada, New Zealand and Australia - all nations with large native populations - voted against the text, expressing concerns over some provisions, including those on self-determination and rights to land and resources. Eleven nations abstained³ from the vote.

The passage of the Declaration creates no new rights and does not place indigenous people in a special category, but it does lay out their rights in a number of areas including culture, employment and language, while prohibiting discrimination against them.

Latin American delegates, like Connie Taracena from Guatemala's U.N. Mission, welcomed the Declaration, saying it will benefit their region which has a large indigenous population. "My message to the indigenous people is that this is a great opportunity to celebrate and this really opens the door for a great future."

But representatives from several indigenous groups criticized the countries that did not support the measure. Phil Fontaine, leader of the Assembly of First Nations from Canada, says his country's vote against the Declaration is a blight⁴ on its human rights record.

 

"Canada can no longer present itself as one of leading proponents⁵ and defenders⁶ and protectors of human rights. It was able to do that until this moment. You cannot pick and choose the human rights that you will defend. It is clearly a slap in the face of indigenous peoples and a huge disappointment for us," he said.

Canada objected to the measure saying it lacks clear guidance for implementation⁷, and conflicts with the existing Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms - which the government believes already protects the rights of native peoples.

Last year the General Assembly deferred⁸ adopting the Declaration after African countries raised objections to language on self-determination and the definition of "indigenous" people. After the language was amended⁹ this year, they threw their support behind it.

1 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

2 indigenous   

adj.土产的，土生土长的，本地的

参考例句：

• Each country has its own indigenous cultural tradition.每个国家都有自己本土的文化传统。
• Indians were the indigenous inhabitants of America.印第安人是美洲的土著居民。

3 abstained   

v.戒（尤指酒），戒除( abstain的过去式和过去分词 )；弃权（不投票）

参考例句：

• Ten people voted in favour, five against and two abstained. 十人投票赞成，五人反对，两人弃权。
• They collectively abstained (from voting) in the elections for local councilors. 他们在地方议会议员选举中集体弃权。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 blight   

n.枯萎病；造成破坏的因素；vt.破坏，摧残

参考例句：

• The apple crop was wiped out by blight.枯萎病使苹果全无收成。
• There is a blight on all his efforts.他的一切努力都遭到挫折。

5 proponents   

n.（某事业、理论等的）支持者，拥护者( proponent的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Reviewing courts were among the most active proponents of hybrid rulemaking procedures. 复审法院是最积极的混合型规则制定程序的建议者。 来自英汉非文学 - 行政法
• Proponents of such opinions were arrested as 'traitors. ' 提倡这种主张的人马上作为“卖国贼”逮捕起来。 来自辞典例句

6 defenders   

n.防御者( defender的名词复数 )；守卫者；保护者；辩护者

参考例句：

• The defenders were outnumbered and had to give in. 抵抗者寡不敌众，只能投降。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• After hard fighting,the defenders were still masters of the city. 守军经过奋战仍然控制着城市。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 implementation   

n.实施，贯彻

参考例句：

• Implementation of the program is now well underway.这一项目的实施现在行情看好。

8 deferred   

adj.延期的，缓召的v.拖延，延缓，推迟( defer的过去式和过去分词 )；服从某人的意愿，遵从

参考例句：

• The department deferred the decision for six months. 这个部门推迟了六个月才作决定。
• a tax-deferred savings plan 延税储蓄计划

9 Amended   

adj. 修正的 动词amend的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He asked to see the amended version. 他要求看修订本。
• He amended his speech by making some additions and deletions. 他对讲稿作了些增删修改。