VOA常速英语2018--美国称宗教少数群体遭迫害成全球性问题

In late December of last year, the Trump¹ Administration unveiled its National Security Strategy. One of the priority actions to be undertaken by the United States as part of this new plan is the advancement² and protection of religious freedom and religious minorities around the globe.

去年12月末，特朗普政府公布了其国家安全战略。这项新计划中提到，美国即将进行的主要动作之一就是促进并保护全球的宗教自由和宗教少数群体。

Vice³ President Pence in his remarks at the World Summit in Defense⁴ of Persecuted⁵ Christians⁶ said, Protecting and promoting religious freedom is a foreign policy priority of the Trump administration. Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom Samuel Brownback also said religious freedom is the most important foreign topic today, in his remarks at the United States Institute of Peace.

副总统彭斯在保护受迫害基督徒世界峰会上讲话时表示，保护并促进宗教自由是特朗普政府一项主要的外交政策。负责国际宗教自由事务的无任所大使塞缪尔 布朗巴克(Samuel Brownback)也表示，宗教自由是当今最重要的国际话题，这是他在美国和平研究所讲话期间提到的。

If there is one common thread that connects repressive regimes the world over, it is their oppression of minority religious groups. Persecution⁷, repression⁸, and discrimination are a daily reality for members of religious minority communities in too many countries around the world. Believers and non-believers alike are targeted for violence; their human rights are limited or sometimes entirely⁹ restricted.

如果说世界上各个压迫性政权有什么共通之处的话，那就是：他们都压迫宗教少数群体。迫害、压迫、歧视是世界上许多国家的宗教少数群体成员每天都要面临的现实。无论是有信仰的人还是与其相似的无信仰者都成为暴力攻击的目标；他们不是享有有限的人权，就是什么人权都没有。

The United States' response to such violations¹⁰ and abuses of religious freedom is based on the 20-year-old International Religious Freedom Act, which introduced the promotion¹¹ and protection of religious freedom as a foreign policy priority for the United States.

美国对违背和践踏宗教自由所做出的回应是基于已有20年历史的《国际宗教自由法》。该法案提出将提升并保护宗教自由作为美国一项主要的外交政策。

Over the past several years, The State Department has provided strategic guidance to its embassies and consulates¹² about how to consistently advocate for rights of members of minority communities and promote their equal treatment in society. Recognizing the importance of preserving cultural heritage, the State Department has developed a partnership¹³ with the Smithsonian Institution to train church and other leaders of minority faith communities on how to protect ancient places of cultural significance.

过去数年来，国务院为其驻扎各地的大使馆和领事馆提供了战略方针，内容是关于怎样持之以恒地倡导少数社群成员的权利，以及怎样提升他们在社会上的待遇以实现平等。由于认识到了保护文化遗产的重要性，所以国务院已经与史密森学会建立了伙伴关系，以培训教堂以及其他宗教少数群体的领袖，内容与保护具有文化重要性的古代遗址有关。

The Department has also worked with the Organization of American States to recruit countries in our hemisphere to join these efforts to combat persecution in other regions.

国务院还与美洲国家组织合作，招募西半球的国家加入这项工作，以打击其他地区的宗教迫害行为。

Nonetheless, there are an increasing number of actors who continue to attack members of religious minority groups and undermine religious diversity. In response, we must stay committed to emphasizing the universal importance of this fundamental freedom. We can achieve lasting¹⁴ results by building and protecting environments where everyone can enjoy freedom of religion or belief.

然而，还是有越来越多的人在继续攻击宗教群体的成员，在继续破坏宗教多样性。作为回应，我们必须坚定致力于强调宗教自由这项基本自由的普遍重要性。我们可以实现持之有效的成果，方式是保护我们所构建的环境，让这个环境里的每个人都能享有宗教自由或宗教信仰。

1 trump   

n.王牌，法宝；v.打出王牌，吹喇叭

参考例句：

• He was never able to trump up the courage to have a showdown.他始终鼓不起勇气摊牌。
• The coach saved his star player for a trump card.教练保留他的明星选手，作为他的王牌。

2 advancement   

n.前进，促进，提升

参考例句：

• His new contribution to the advancement of physiology was well appreciated.他对生理学发展的新贡献获得高度赞赏。
• The aim of a university should be the advancement of learning.大学的目标应是促进学术。

3 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

4 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

5 persecuted   

（尤指宗教或政治信仰的）迫害(~sb. for sth.)( persecute的过去式和过去分词 )； 烦扰，困扰或骚扰某人

参考例句：

• Throughout history, people have been persecuted for their religious beliefs. 人们因宗教信仰而受迫害的情况贯穿了整个历史。
• Members of these sects are ruthlessly persecuted and suppressed. 这些教派的成员遭到了残酷的迫害和镇压。

6 Christians   

n.基督教徒( Christian的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Christians of all denominations attended the conference. 基督教所有教派的人都出席了这次会议。
• His novel about Jesus caused a furore among Christians. 他关于耶稣的小说激起了基督教徒的公愤。

7 persecution   

n. 迫害,烦扰

参考例句：

• He had fled from France at the time of the persecution. 他在大迫害时期逃离了法国。
• Their persecution only serves to arouse the opposition of the people. 他们的迫害只激起人民对他们的反抗。

8 repression   

n.镇压，抑制，抑压

参考例句：

• The repression of your true feelings is harmful to your health.压抑你的真实感情有害健康。
• This touched off a new storm against violent repression.这引起了反对暴力镇压的新风暴。

9 entirely   

ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
• His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。

10 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。

11 promotion   

n.提升，晋级；促销，宣传

参考例句：

• The teacher conferred with the principal about Dick's promotion.教师与校长商谈了迪克的升级问题。
• The clerk was given a promotion and an increase in salary.那个职员升了级，加了薪。

12 consulates   

n.领事馆( consulate的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Consulates General of The People's Republic at Los Angeles. 中华人民共和国驻洛杉矶总领事馆。 来自互联网
• The country's embassies, consulates and other diplomatic missions stationed in other countries. （七）家驻外使馆、馆和其他外交代表机构。 来自互联网

13 partnership   

n.合作关系，伙伴关系

参考例句：

• The company has gone into partnership with Swiss Bank Corporation.这家公司已经和瑞士银行公司建立合作关系。
• Martin has taken him into general partnership in his company.马丁已让他成为公司的普通合伙人。

14 lasting   

adj.永久的，永恒的；vbl.持续，维持

参考例句：

• The lasting war debased the value of the dollar.持久的战争使美元贬值。
• We hope for a lasting settlement of all these troubles.我们希望这些纠纷能获得永久的解决。