和谐英语

请输入关键字词

热门搜索排行

最新搜索排行

您现在的位置是：首页 > 英语听力 > VOA英语听力下载|VOA news > voa标准英语|美国之音常速英语下载|在线收听

正文

VOA常速英语:Actress Charlize Theron Named UN Messenger of Peace

2008-11-18来源:和谐英语

音频下载[点击右键另存为]
Academy-award-winning actress and activist Charlize Theron has been named a U.N. Messenger of Peace. Her special focus will be on ending violence against women. From U.N. headquarters in New York, VOA's Margaret Besheer has more.

The South African actress has worked to improve the lives of impoverished women and children, especially those with HIV/AIDS, in her homeland through her foundation, the Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project. She has also spoken out against sexual violence against women.

In choosing Theron, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said she has used her "voice, compassion and special relationship with the public to create a better world."

At U.N. headquarters, Theron told reporters she is humbled by the appointment. She said growing up in South Africa, where violence against women is rampant, she cannot ignore the issue.

Theron said change comes one person at a time, particularly through education.

"It starts with entering one rural community, one school at a time, and giving them the tools, the education, the understanding that raping a virgin does not cure HIV, that you cannot wash a condom and use it twice - these are things we take for granted in our everyday lives. When you are dealing with a country, especially in the rural parts of Africa, you cannot take anything for granted," said Theron.

The United Nations said, worldwide, one in five women will become a victim of rape or attempted rape during her lifetime. At least one out of every three women is likely to be beaten, forced into sex or otherwise abused in her lifetime, and more than 80 percent of trafficking victims are women.

Charlize Theron joins nine other U.N. Messengers of Peace, who advocate on different issues for the organization. Among them are actors George Clooney and Michael Douglas, cellist Yo-Yo Ma and Nobel Laureate Elie Wiesel.
本栏目更多同类内容

相关文章