VOA常速英语2014--西非埃博拉疫情考验人权

HRW: Ebola Outbreak Tests Human Rights 西非埃博拉疫情考验人权

West African governments are being urged to ensure human rights are respected as they battle the ongoing 1 Ebola outbreak. Human Rights Watch says the response to the crisis has been slowed by ignorance, fear, denial and mistrust.

国际社会敦促西非政府在应对仍在继续的埃博拉疫情的时候确保人权得到尊重。人权观察组织表示，由于无知，恐惧，拒绝和不信任，对这场危机的反应被拖延。

Human Rights Watch says protecting rights is “a crucial element in controlling the unprecedented 2 Ebola epidemic 3 ravaging 4 the region.”

人权观察组织表示，保护人权是“抑制这场肆虐整个地区的前所未有的埃博拉疫情的关键因素。”

Corinne Dufka, senior West Africa researcher, said, “We do call on these governments to adopt a human rights framework in addressing this illness, which is creating an incredible strain on these countries, which are recovering from armed conflict in the case of Sierra Leone and Liberia – and then decades of authoritarian 5 rule in Guinea.”

Corinne Dufka是西非一名资深研究人员。“我们呼吁这些政府在应对这场疫情的时候制定人权框架。这场疫情在这些国家造成了难以置信的紧张气氛。而塞拉利昂和利比里亚刚刚从武装冲突中恢复，几内亚刚刚结束了数十年的独裁统治。”

She says Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone have histories of corruption 6, abuses by security forces and media restrictions 7.

她表示，利比里亚，几内亚和塞拉利昂都有着腐败，安全力量滥用权力和媒体禁令的历史。

Dufka said the protection of health care workers is a top priority. At least 140 have died in the outbreak. She said many have raised concerns about a lack of protective suits and equipment needed when treating patients.

Dufka表示，对医护工作者的保护是当务之急。至少140名医务人员已在这场疫情中牺牲。她表示，许多人担忧治疗病人时缺乏所需的防护服和设备。

“We are asking that the governments step up to the plate – that [the] international community help them do that to ensure that the right they have for protection during epidemics 8 is respected.”

“我们要求政府做好准备工作，国际社会将帮助他们确保应对疫情时应有的权利得到尊重。”

Besides health professionals, Human Rights Watch said better protection is also needed for janitors 9, cleaning staff, drivers and burial staff.

除了医疗专家之外，人权观察组织表示，守卫，清洁人员，司机和殡葬人员也需要更好的保护。

Recently, tension filled the West Pointe neighborhood of Liberia’s capital Monrovia when it was placed under quarantine. Dufka agreed that quarantines are needed at times, but said they’re often more effective in isolated 10 communities.

最近，利比里亚首都蒙罗维亚West Pointe社区被隔离，被紧张气氛充斥。Dufka表示，隔离检疫有时是需要的，但是在独立的社区更加有效。

“Because quarantines necessarily address liberty and freedom of movement – as well as freedom to make livelihood 11 – we’re asking that other measures that involve public education, working with the community, cooperative measures be used instead. These measures are really the least intrusive 12 and restrictive available to be able to reach the same objective,” she said.

“由于隔离检疫必须要解决自由，生存的自由，我们要求采取其他措施，包括公共教育，与社区一起工作等合作措施。这些措施侵入性和限制性是最少的，而且也一样能够达到同样的目的。”

HRW said quarantines must be based on scientific evidence.  And when they are imposed governments have an obligation to provide food, water and health care. It said that “quarantines imposed during this epidemic have frequently not met these standards…and have been applied 13 arbitrarily and been overly broad in implementation 14.”

人权观察组织表示，隔离检疫必须基于科学证据。当实施了隔离检疫的时候，政府有义务提供食物，水和医疗保护。该组织表示，“疫情期间采取的隔离检疫通常没有达到这些标准，都是武断地进行的，而且实施的范围太大。”

There’s a gender 15 dimension to the Ebola crisis, too. UNICEF reported that women account for 55 to 60 percent of the deaths. HRW’s Dufka said it has to due with the role women play.

这场埃博拉疫情危机也存在性别分化。联合国儿童基金会报道称，女性占因埃博拉病毒死亡人数的55%至60%。人权观察组织的Dufka表示，这与女性扮演的角色有关。

“Women are disproportionately represented among nurses and cleaning staff at hospitals and so on. They also care for the sick and then prepare the dead for burial. They’re also more likely to be cross-border traders. So, all of these professions and occupations leave them more vulnerable to infection.”

“女性在医院等地方担任着护工或清洁人权。她们还要照顾病人，为死者准备埋葬。他们还更有可能穿越边境进行贸易。所以，这些职业导致他们更容易感染病毒。”

Dufka said governments must take steps to bridge the information gap about Ebola, which has led to fear and mistrust. This includes public education campaigns and community involvement in prevention strategies. She says that’s an obligation defined under the International Covenant 16 on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

Dufka表示，政府必须采取措施弥补关于埃博拉的信息缺失。信息缺失导致恐惧和不信任。包括公共教育活动和社区参与预防策略。她表示，这是国际经济，社会和文化权利公约所规定的义务。

“Now, the local human rights community, local radios, local NGOs are doing a fantastic job at trying to educate the public. They’re using community radio. They’re using local, traditional and religious leaders. And so we’re calling on the governments to work directly with them. They already are in many places to really systematize that relationship, as well as for the international community to support these groups,” she said.

“现在，当地人权组织，当地电台和当地非政府组织在教育公众方面都做得不错。他们利用当地电台，利用当地的，传统的，宗教的领袖。所以，我们呼吁政府直接与他们一起努力。他们已经深入许多地方，将关系系统化，也有利于国际社会支持这些组织。”

Dufka said security forces “are playing a central role” in the epidemic and are charged with enforcing quarantines. She said since the end of regional conflicts in the 1990s and early 2000s they have received much training and are more accountable for their actions.

Dufka表示，安全力量在疫情方面发挥着中心作用，也负责实施隔离检疫。她表示，自从90年代末，本世纪初该地区的冲突结束以来，他们接受了更多训练，更能为自己的行为负责。

“That said -- we have been receiving reports of particularly extortion and bribe 17 taking during periods and places of quarantine.”

“我们收到报告称隔离检疫的某些地方某些阶段发生了敲诈和贿赂的情况。”

Human Rights Watch called on the governments of Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone to adopt a zero tolerance 18 policy when it comes to abuse by security forces.

人权观察组织呼吁利比里亚，几内亚和塞拉利昂政府对安全力量滥用权力采取零容忍的政策。

Also, HRW said the international community must do much more to help African governments deal with the health crisis – and ensure transparency into how donor 19 funds are being spent.

同时，人权观察组织表示，国际社会必须采取更多措施帮助非洲政府应对这场安全危机，确保捐款的使用情况透明化。