VOA标准英语2009年-Rights Group Warns of Rwanda Anti-Gay
时间：2019-01-13 作者：英语课 分类：VOA标准英语2009年(十二月)
A coalition 1 of human rights groups is condemning 2 a proposed amendment 3 to Rwanda's criminal law that would criminalize homosexual behavior and advocacy.
Alan Boswell | Nairobi 17 December 2009
Meanwhile, Rwanda's northern neighbor, Uganda, is receiving heat for a "draconian 4" anti-gay bill being debated in its legislature.
The coalition Observatory 5 for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders 6 says the draft language to criminalize homosexuality could be voted on in the Rwandan lower house of parliament by Friday. The draft code would then pass to the Rwandan senate for approval.
The amended 7 language for Article 217 acquired by the group would give offenders 8 - those who "practice," "encourage," or "sensitize" someone of the same sex towards homosexual relations - a prison term of five to 10 years in addition to a hefty fine.
Homosexuality is not currently criminalized under Rwandan law.
A spokesperson for the coalition-partner International Federation 9 for Human Rights, Pouline Kimani, says the bill violates basic human rights and could threaten the health and well-being 10 of those who identify as part of the gay community.
"If this bill passes then it emphasizes on state-sponsored homophobia and also community homophobia, because it almost justifies 11 the use violence against LGBTI [Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Intersex] persons based upon the fact that it will criminalize their identity," said Kimani.
Politicized anti-gay sentiment has recently been sweeping 12 across east Africa. Burundi earlier this year criminalized homosexuality. Uganda has been debating an anti-gay bill that includes a possible death sentence for violators. Kenya and Tanzania already have anti-gay laws, though homosexual rights activists 13 fear that these laws could be expanded.
The anti-gay bills have been bolstered 14 by a strengthening and organized conservative Christian 15 evangelical movement in the region, as well as "anti-colonialist" emotions. Many Africans claim homosexuality is a foreign import from the West.
Kimani says that the politicians do not fully 16 realize the damaging consequences that criminalization can have.
"With observation of what has happened in east Africa since 2004 when Zanzibar put in the sodomy law, each and every of these east Africa countries is rushing towards having a bill against LGBTI persons without thinking of the effects of it," he said.
Activists say that criminalization of homosexuality discourages those in the gay community from seeking testing and medical care for HIV/AIDS for fears of being suspected.
The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders coalition is a joint 17 venture of the International Federation of Human Rights and the World Organization Against Torture.
- The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
- Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。
- The government issued a statement condemning the killings. 政府发表声明谴责这些凶杀事件。
- I concur with the speaker in condemning what has been done. 我同意发言者对所做的事加以谴责。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
- The amendment was rejected by 207 voters to 143.这项修正案以207票对143票被否决。
- The Opposition has tabled an amendment to the bill.反对党已经就该议案提交了一项修正条款。
- You can't expect the people to obey such draconian regulations.你不能指望人民服从如此严苛的规定。
- The city needs a draconian way of dealing with robbers.这个城市需要一个严苛的办法来对付强盗。
- Guy's house was close to the observatory.盖伊的房子离天文台很近。
- Officials from Greenwich Observatory have the clock checked twice a day.格林威治天文台的职员们每天对大钟检查两次。
- 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》
- Long prison sentences can be a very effective deterrent for offenders. 判处长期徒刑可对违法者起到强有力的威慑作用。
- Purposeful work is an important part of the regime for young offenders. 使从事有意义的劳动是管理少年犯的重要方法。
- It is a federation of 10 regional unions.它是由十个地方工会结合成的联合会。
- Mr.Putin was inaugurated as the President of the Russian Federation.普京正式就任俄罗斯联邦总统。
- He always has the well-being of the masses at heart.他总是把群众的疾苦挂在心上。
- My concern for their well-being was misunderstood as interference.我关心他们的幸福，却被误解为多管闲事。
- Their frequency of use both justifies and requires the memorization. 频繁的使用需要记忆，也促进了记忆。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓
- In my judgement the present end justifies the means. 照我的意见，只要目的正当，手段是可以不计较的。
- The citizens voted for sweeping reforms.公民投票支持全面的改革。
- Can you hear the wind sweeping through the branches?你能听到风掠过树枝的声音吗？
- His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
- Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- He bolstered his plea with new evidence. 他举出新的证据来支持他的抗辩。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
- The data must be bolstered by inferences and indirect estimates of varying degrees of reliability. 这些资料必须借助于推理及可靠程度不同的间接估计。 来自辞典例句
- They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
- His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。
- The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
- They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。