VOA慢速英语2015 泰国称在打击人口贩卖方面取得一些成效

 

AS IT IS 2015-01-17 Thailand Says Progress Made in Fighting Human Trafficking 泰国称在打击人口贩卖方面取得一些成效

Thailand is reporting progress in efforts to end human trafficking and abuse of migrant workers. Thailand’s government is taking steps after receiving criticism from rights groups and the United States.

In 2014, the United States government lowered Thailand’s rating in its Trafficking in Persons Report. Researchers reported that Thailand showed few signs of improving its record on illegal labor¹ and human trafficking – the trade in human beings.

Rights groups have protested labor abuses in many Thai industries, from fishing and manufacturing to farming. The groups say many foreigners are paid too little and expected to work long hours under threats of violence.

The U.S. report placed Thailand among the countries with the worst ratings. It could lead to actions against Thailand, including a suspension of assistance from financial organizations like the World Bank.

There are an estimated three million migrant workers in Thailand. Most of the immigrants are from Burma, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. The U.S. report said people from China, Russia, Uzbekistan, India and Fiji are also victims of human trafficking in Thailand. They are often enslaved in labor and the sex trade.

Last year, Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha called for the creation of special anti-trafficking committees. He urged the groups to create new policies to stop human trafficking and improve worker rights.

This week, the Thai Foreign Ministry² released a report on the government’s stronger legislation and new anti-trafficking measures.

Don Pramudwinai is the country’s Deputy Foreign Minister. He says the new efforts marked progress in dealing³ with the issues of human trafficking. He spoke⁴ to reporters on Monday

“The past six months, there were tangible⁵ results...where there’s amendments⁶ of the law and all the issues pertaining⁷ to the victims, and the enforcement as well. All these (are) genuine measures, that could be implemented⁸ in a very effective manner.”

Measures include stronger rules to protect labor in the fishing industry, including requiring that each worker has a labor agreement. In the agriculture industry, workers now must be at least 15 years old.

The government says it reached out to civil society and non-government organizations to establish and supervise the policies.

Htoo Chit is a Burmese activist⁹ in Thailand’s southern province of Phang Na. He leads an organization that campaigns for migrant labor rights. He says the group is working with the government on a pilot project in the fishing industry.

Htoo Chit says the policy marks an improvement, including registration¹⁰ of currently undocumented labor. But he says more needs to be done.

New government rules require all boats at sea to carry and use observation equipment by next month.   

The Thai government says it has registered up to 1.6 million migrant workers who had never been registered before.

Kanchana Patachoke is a deputy director general with the Thai Foreign Ministry. She says Thailand is looking to improve its standing¹¹ by meeting international protocols¹³ on human trafficking.

“Thailand is also working in good cooperation with international organizations and the United Nations, obligations that Thailand has to undertake under the UNTOC – or the UN Transnational Organized Crime Convention. And Thailand is also a party to the protocol¹² on human trafficking or trafficking of migrants and we are considering acceding¹⁴ to the protocol on smuggling¹⁵ of migrants as well.”

Thai Deputy Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai told VOA the goal remains¹⁶ to end forced labor and human trafficking in Thailand.

Phil Robertson is deputy director of Human Rights Watch Asia. He says the new policies are welcomed. But he says more needs to be done on enforcement, especially for the high-risk populations such as Muslim Rohingya from Myanmar and Bangladesh.

“We’ve seen time and time again promises made, commitments promulgated¹⁸, promises to change laws, to change regulations but nothing gets done about impunity¹⁹. The impunity to continue to traffic people, what’s happening to the Rohingya, to migrants forced on to fishing boats raises serious suspicions that this is once again the Thai government’s effort to talk themselves out of a problem.”

The Thai government says it considers the efforts to stop human trafficking of top importance.

Words in This Story

protocol – n. a system of rules that explain the correct behavior and methods to be followed in official situations

smuggle²⁰  – v. to move (someone or something) from one country into another illegally and secretly

commitment – n. a promise to do or give something

promulgate¹⁷ – v. to make (an idea, belief, etc.) known to many people

regulation – n. an official rule or law that says how something should be done

impunity – adj. freedom from punishment, harm, or loss 

1 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。

2 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

3 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

4 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

5 tangible   

adj.有形的，可触摸的，确凿的，实际的

参考例句：

• The policy has not yet brought any tangible benefits.这项政策还没有带来任何实质性的好处。
• There is no tangible proof.没有确凿的证据。

6 amendments   

（法律、文件的）改动( amendment的名词复数 )； 修正案； 修改； （美国宪法的）修正案

参考例句：

• The committee does not adequately consult others when drafting amendments. 委员会在起草修正案时没有充分征求他人的意见。
• Please propose amendments and addenda to the first draft of the document. 请对这个文件的初稿提出修改和补充意见。

7 pertaining   

与…有关系的，附属…的，为…固有的(to)

参考例句：

• Living conditions are vastly different from those pertaining in their country of origin. 生活条件与他们祖国大不相同。
• The inspector was interested in everything pertaining to the school. 视察员对有关学校的一切都感兴趣。

8 implemented   

v.实现( implement的过去式和过去分词 )；执行；贯彻；使生效

参考例句：

• This agreement, if not implemented, is a mere scrap of paper. 这个协定如不执行只不过是一纸空文。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• The economy is in danger of collapse unless far-reaching reforms are implemented. 如果不实施影响深远的改革，经济就面临崩溃的危险。 来自辞典例句

9 activist   

n.活动分子，积极分子

参考例句：

• He's been a trade union activist for many years.多年来他一直是工会的积极分子。
• He is a social activist in our factory.他是我厂的社会活动积极分子。

10 registration   

n.登记，注册，挂号

参考例句：

• Marriage without registration is not recognized by law.法律不承认未登记的婚姻。
• What's your registration number?你挂的是几号？

11 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

12 protocol   

n.议定书，草约，会谈记录，外交礼节

参考例句：

• We must observe the correct protocol.我们必须遵守应有的礼仪。
• The statesmen signed a protocol.那些政治家签了议定书。

13 protocols   

n.礼仪( protocol的名词复数 )；（外交条约的）草案；（数据传递的）协议；科学实验报告（或计划）

参考例句：

• There are also protocols on the testing of nuclear weapons. 也有关于核武器试验的协议。 来自辞典例句
• Hardware components and software design of network transport protocols are separately introduced. 介绍系统硬件组成及网络传输协议的软件设计。 来自互联网

14 acceding   

v.（正式）加入( accede的现在分词 )；答应；（通过财产的添附而）增加；开始任职

参考例句：

• After all, political careers depend acceding tothe demands the central government. 毕竟政治事业是要满足中央政府的要求的。 来自互联网
• Shall you have any problem acceding the folders, please let me knows. 如果存取文件有任何问题请和我联系。 来自互联网

15 smuggling   

n.走私

参考例句：

• Some claimed that the docker's union fronted for the smuggling ring.某些人声称码头工人工会是走私集团的掩护所。
• The evidence pointed to the existence of an international smuggling network.证据表明很可能有一个国际走私网络存在。

16 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

17 promulgate   

v.宣布；传播；颁布（法令、新法律等）

参考例句：

• The king promulgate a decree.国王颁布了一项命令。
• The shipping industry promulgated a voluntary code.航运业对自律守则进行了宣传。

18 promulgated   

v.宣扬（某事物）( promulgate的过去式和过去分词 )；传播；公布；颁布（法令、新法律等）

参考例句：

• Hence China has promulgated more than 30 relevant laws, statutes and regulations. 中国为此颁布的法律、法规和规章多达３０余项。 来自汉英非文学 - 白皮书
• The shipping industry promulgated a voluntary code. 航运业对自律守则进行了宣传。 来自辞典例句

19 impunity   

n.(惩罚、损失、伤害等的)免除

参考例句：

• You will not escape with impunity.你不可能逃脱惩罚。
• The impunity what compulsory insurance sets does not include escapement.交强险规定的免责范围不包括逃逸。

20 smuggle   

vt.私运；vi.走私

参考例句：

• Friends managed to smuggle him secretly out of the country.朋友们想方设法将他秘密送出国了。
• She has managed to smuggle out the antiques without getting caught.她成功将古董走私出境，没有被逮捕。