2007年VOA标准英语-ECOWAS Works to Eradicate Child Trafficking
时间：2019-01-31 作者：英语课 分类：2007年VOA标准英语（六月）
Abuja
13 June 2007
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has launched an initiative to raise regional awareness 1 of human trafficking, especially children. Gilbert da Costa reports that the plight 2 of children in the impoverished 3 region has been in focus as Africa this week marks the day of the child.
Child trafficking is widely prevalent in West Africa, whether for the sex trade or other forms of exploitation.
Henrietta Didigu is an ECOWAS official responsible for issues relating to children in the region.
"The U.N. says about 4 million people are being trafficked all over the world, and out of this, you have between 200,000 and 800,000 being trafficked in the sub-region alone. That is what we have presently," she said.
The root causes of child trafficking in West Africa have been traced to poverty. But experts say gender 4 discrimination and instability or conflict are also factors underlying 5 the practice.
Didigu says authorities in the region are now responding to the challenges posed by child trafficking by providing resources to victims and by arresting and prosecuting 6 offenders 7.
"Eleven out of 15 of our member states have ratified 8 the relevant international conventions on the fight against trafficking in persons," she added. "Most of our member states have legislation against trafficking. All of our member states have established national task forces; their responsibility is to develop national action plans."
Didigu says these steps are a sign that the states of West Africa are determined 9 to fight what the United Nations Children's Fund describes as one of the gravest violations 10 of human rights in the world.
- There is a general awareness that smoking is harmful.人们普遍认识到吸烟有害健康。
- Environmental awareness has increased over the years.这些年来人们的环境意识增强了。
- The leader was much concerned over the plight of the refugees.那位领袖对难民的困境很担忧。
- She was in a most helpless plight.她真不知如何是好。
- the impoverished areas of the city 这个城市的贫民区
- They were impoverished by a prolonged spell of unemployment. 他们因长期失业而一贫如洗。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- French differs from English in having gender for all nouns.法语不同于英语，所有的名词都有性。
- Women are sometimes denied opportunities solely because of their gender.妇女有时仅仅因为性别而无法获得种种机会。
- The underlying theme of the novel is very serious.小说隐含的主题是十分严肃的。
- This word has its underlying meaning.这个单词有它潜在的含义。
- The witness was cross-examined by the prosecuting counsel. 证人接受控方律师的盘问。
- Every point made by the prosecuting attorney was telling. 检查官提出的每一点都是有力的。
- 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。
- The treaty was declared invalid because it had not been ratified. 条约没有得到批准，因此被宣布无效。
- The treaty was ratified by all the member states. 这个条约得到了所有成员国的批准。
- I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
- He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。
- 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。