VOA标准英语2010年-Report: Many Internally Displaced Chil

The United Nations estimates there are about 250,000 child soldiers around the world, and millions more that are victims of armed conflict.

Challenges outweigh¹ positives

Despite this hapless situation, the U.N. Secretary-General's Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict reports on a number of positive developments during the past year.  Radhika Coomaraswamy said the United Nations has reached agreement with rebel groups in Nepal, Sudan and Burundi for the release of thousands of child soldiers.

She agreed, however, the challenges far outweigh these moments of progress.

"The recent incidents of mass rape² in the DRC (Democratic Republic of Congo) are mind boggling. So far, it is estimated that as many as 500 women and children have been sexually assaulted, one as young as seven-years old," said Coomaraswamy.

Trying children for war crimes

But she noted³ that not all crimes against children take place in the developing world. Coomaraswamy criticized the United States for trying a young terrorist suspect Omar Khadr, before the U.S. Military Commission in Guantanamo Bay. Khadr was 15 years old when he was arrested in Afghanistan in 2002 for allegedly throwing a grenade that killed a U.S. soldier. Coomaraswamy said Khadr is the first person to be tried before the Commission on charges of war crimes.

"The international community has, without exception, refused to try children for war crimes," said Coomaraswamy. "All international prosecutors⁴ have used their discretion⁵ to ensure rehabilitation⁶ rather than prosecution⁷ for war crimes, which they may have committed as child soldiers; recruited by adults to fight causes they barely understand ... trying Omar Khadr for war crimes will set a precedent⁸ that may endanger the status of child soldiers all over the world."

Special needs of internally displaced children

In her report to the U.N. Council, Coomaraswamy highlights the special needs and concerns of internally displaced children all over the world.

"There is no child more vulnerable in the world today than a child internally displaced by armed conflict, forced to leave home and community behind. Children who have been internally displaced are also at high risk for becoming victims of grave violations⁹. Research has shown that the largest number of children recruited to be child soldiers is often from internally displaced camps," said Coomaraswamy.

Child-rights expert Coomaraswamy is urging all countries to ratify¹⁰ an Optional Protocol¹¹ on Children In Armed Conflict. She said universal ratification¹² will ensure the prohibition¹³ against child soldiers becomes an international norm.

1 outweigh   

vt.比...更重，...更重要

参考例句：

• The merits of your plan outweigh the defects.你制定的计划其优点胜过缺点。
• One's merits outweigh one's short-comings.功大于过。

2 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。

3 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

4 prosecutors   

检举人( prosecutor的名词复数 )； 告发人； 起诉人； 公诉人

参考例句：

• In some places,public prosecutors are elected rather than appointed. 在有些地方，检察官是经选举而非任命产生的。 来自口语例句
• You've been summoned to the Prosecutors' Office, 2 days later. 你在两天以后被宣到了检察官的办公室。

5 discretion   

n.谨慎；随意处理

参考例句：

• You must show discretion in choosing your friend.你择友时必须慎重。
• Please use your best discretion to handle the matter.请慎重处理此事。

6 rehabilitation   

n.康复，悔过自新，修复，复兴，复职，复位

参考例句：

• He's booked himself into a rehabilitation clinic.他自己联系了一家康复诊所。
• No one can really make me rehabilitation of injuries.已经没有人可以真正令我的伤康复了。

7 prosecution   

n.起诉，告发，检举，执行，经营

参考例句：

• The Smiths brought a prosecution against the organizers.史密斯家对组织者们提出起诉。
• He attempts to rebut the assertion made by the prosecution witness.他试图反驳原告方证人所作的断言。

8 precedent   

n.先例，前例；惯例；adj.在前的，在先的

参考例句：

• Is there a precedent for what you want me to do?你要我做的事有前例可援吗？
• This is a wonderful achievement without precedent in Chinese history.这是中国历史上亘古未有的奇绩。

9 violations   

违反( violation的名词复数 )； 冒犯； 违反（行为、事例）； 强奸

参考例句：

• This is one of the commonest traffic violations. 这是常见的违反交通规则之例。
• These violations of the code must cease forthwith. 这些违犯法规的行为必须立即停止。

10 ratify   

v.批准，认可，追认

参考例句：

• The heads of two governments met to ratify the peace treaty.两国政府首脑会晤批准和平条约。
• The agreement have to be ratify by the board.该协议必须由董事会批准。

11 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。

12 ratification   

n.批准，认可

参考例句：

• The treaty is awaiting ratification.条约正等待批准。
• The treaty is subject to ratification.此条约经批准后才能生效。

13 prohibition   

n.禁止；禁令，禁律

参考例句：

• The prohibition against drunken driving will save many lives.禁止酒后开车将会减少许多死亡事故。
• They voted in favour of the prohibition of smoking in public areas.他们投票赞成禁止在公共场所吸烟。