VOA标准英语10月-UN Expert Warns Use of Torture Widespread in Many

The independent U.N. expert on torture and other cruel, inhuman¹ or degrading treatment, says torture is practiced frequently in many countries, and that prison conditions are often so poor they can be considered cruel and inhuman treatment. From United Nation's headquarters in New York, VOA's Margaret Besheer has more.
　

Manfred Nowak (file photo)

Special Rapporteur Manfred Nowak said that while many individual countries have improved the treatment of detainees and prisoners over the years, torture and ill treatment continue to be widespread.

"On a global level I still come to the conclusion on the basis of many fact-finding missions and other evidence, that torture and ill-treatment is still practiced on a widespread, partly even systematic² and routine level, in many countries of the world," he said.

He said the conditions of detention³ are appalling⁴ in many countries, with prisoners living in overcrowded jails, lacking access to food, healthcare, fresh air and hygiene⁵.

"Prisoners and detainees are among most vulnerable groups in every society," he said. "And we have about nine to 10 million people detained on a global level, and I would say that many of them - millions of individuals - are living in appalling conditions that could only be described as cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment."

Nowak also criticized the practice of solitary⁶ confinement⁷, saying it is often used for prolonged periods of time and to coerce⁸ confessions⁹ from suspects.

"We have enough medical and psychiatric evidence that isolation¹⁰, complete isolation, even often after very few weeks already, may lead to serious mental problems and mental illnesses, and that is why I am calling upon governments, in general, to review their policies and apply solitary confinement only if it is absolutely necessary to achieve a legitimate¹¹ purpose and for as short a period as possible," he said.

In a recent report to the U.N. General Assembly, the Special Rapporteur criticized several countries for their solitary confinement practices, including the United States for its practices at its Guantanamo Bay facility; Mongolia, which often keeps inmates¹² in solitary confinement for the entire length of their multi-year sentences; and China, where female prisoners have been held in isolation to receive the so-called "training" to renounce¹³ their beliefs.

Nowak also warned that persons with mental and physical disabilities are particularly vulnerable to ill treatment --including neglect and isolation, physical, mental and sexual abuse. He said disabled persons in institutions or detention facilities are often subjected to medical experiments or treatments such as forced abortions¹⁴, sterilization¹⁵ and electroshock treatment without their consent. The Special Rapporteur called on countries to step up monitoring of institutions where these people are held to prevent such abuses.

1 inhuman   

adj.残忍的，不人道的，无人性的

参考例句：

• We must unite the workers in fighting against inhuman conditions.我们必须使工人们团结起来反对那些难以忍受的工作条件。
• It was inhuman to refuse him permission to see his wife.不容许他去看自己的妻子是太不近人情了。

2 systematic   

adj.有系统的，有计划的，有方法的

参考例句：

• The way he works isn't very systematic.他的工作不是很有条理。
• The teacher made a systematic work of teaching.这个教师进行系统的教学工作。

3 detention   

n.滞留，停留；拘留，扣留；(教育)留下

参考例句：

• He was kept in detention by the police.他被警察扣留了。
• He was in detention in connection with the bribery affair.他因与贿赂事件有牵连而被拘留了。

4 appalling   

adj.骇人听闻的，令人震惊的，可怕的

参考例句：

• The search was hampered by appalling weather conditions.恶劣的天气妨碍了搜寻工作。
• Nothing can extenuate such appalling behaviour.这种骇人听闻的行径罪无可恕。

5 hygiene   

n.健康法，卫生学 （a.hygienic）

参考例句：

• Their course of study includes elementary hygiene and medical theory.他们的课程包括基础卫生学和医疗知识。
• He's going to give us a lecture on public hygiene.他要给我们作关于公共卫生方面的报告。

6 solitary   

adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士

参考例句：

• I am rather fond of a solitary stroll in the country.我颇喜欢在乡间独自徜徉。
• The castle rises in solitary splendour on the fringe of the desert.这座城堡巍然耸立在沙漠的边际，显得十分壮美。

7 confinement   

n.幽禁，拘留，监禁；分娩；限制，局限

参考例句：

• He spent eleven years in solitary confinement.他度过了11年的单独监禁。
• The date for my wife's confinement was approaching closer and closer.妻子分娩的日子越来越近了。

8 coerce   

v.强迫，压制

参考例句：

• You can't coerce her into obedience.你不能强制她服从。
• Do you think there is any way that we can coerce them otherwise?你认为我们有什么办法强迫他们不那样吗？

9 confessions   

n.承认( confession的名词复数 )；自首；声明；（向神父的）忏悔

参考例句：

• It is strictly forbidden to obtain confessions and to give them credence. 严禁逼供信。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Neither trickery nor coercion is used to secure confessions. 既不诱供也不逼供。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

10 isolation   

n.隔离，孤立，分解，分离

参考例句：

• The millionaire lived in complete isolation from the outside world.这位富翁过着与世隔绝的生活。
• He retired and lived in relative isolation.他退休后，生活比较孤寂。

11 legitimate   

adj.合法的，合理的，合乎逻辑的；v.使合法

参考例句：

• Sickness is a legitimate reason for asking for leave.生病是请假的一个正当的理由。
• That's a perfectly legitimate fear.怀有这种恐惧完全在情理之中。

12 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》

13 renounce   

v.放弃；拒绝承认，宣布与…断绝关系

参考例句：

• She decided to renounce the world and enter a convent.她决定弃绝尘世去当修女。
• It was painful for him to renounce his son.宣布与儿子脱离关系对他来说是很痛苦的。

14 abortions   

n.小产( abortion的名词复数 )；小产胎儿；（计划）等中止或夭折；败育

参考例句：

• The Venerable Master: By not having abortions, by not killing living beings. 上人：不堕胎、不杀生。 来自互联网
• Conclusion Chromosome abnormality is one of the causes of spontaneous abortions. 结论：染色体异常是导致反复自然流产的原因之一。 来自互联网

15 sterilization   

n.杀菌，绝育；灭菌

参考例句：

• Sterilization by filtration is subject to one major theoretical limitation. 过滤灭菌具有一个理论上的局限性。 来自辞典例句
• Sterilization is a treatment that frees the treated object of all living organisms. 灭菌处理是从处理对象排除一切生活的生物。 来自辞典例句