聯合國祕書長潘基文世界人口日致辭

Message on World Population Day
世界人口日致辭

11 July 2016
2016年7月11日

The international community has committed to a new sustainable development agenda built on the principles of equity and human rights. A central objective of the Sustainable Development Goals is to leave no one behind.
國際社會已對根據平等和人權原則制定的新的可持續發展議程作出承諾。可持續發展議程的核心目標是不讓任何一個人掉隊。

Despite significant gains made in reducing poverty and improving opportunity and well-being for many people around the world, hundreds of millions remain desperate for a chance of a better future. Among those least served by previous development initiatives are girls, particularly those in their formative teenage years.
我們在爲世界衆多人口減少貧困以及改善他們的機會和福祉方面取得了重大成就，但是還有數億民衆依然渴望有機會實現更美好的未來。以往各項發展倡議忽視最爲嚴重的羣體是女童，特別是處於成長髮展階段、年齡十幾歲的少女。

Just when girls should be in school and imagining the possibilities ahead, too many are held back from pursuing their ambitions by social and cultural traps. While a boy’s options and opportunities tend to expand when he becomes an adolescent, those of a girl too often shrink. Half of all sexual assaults worldwide are committed against girls aged 15 or younger. In developing countries, one in three girls is married before she reaches 18. And teenage girls are less likely than teenage boys to start or finish secondary school.
在應當上學和憧憬未來的時候，太多女童因社會和文化陷阱而無法追求她們的夢想。男童在成爲青少年時選擇和機會隨之增加，而女童的選擇和機會則往往減少。全世界爲數一半的性攻擊的對象是15歲或更加年幼的女童。在發展中國家，三分之一的女童在年滿18歲之前結婚。與十幾歲的男童相比，少女和女童開始或完成中學教育的可能性較小。

Rectifying these inequalities is critical for the success of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. That is why it includes the specific Goal of achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls. On this World Population Day, I urge all Governments, businesses and civil society to support and invest in teenage girls. Everyone deserves the benefits of economic growth and social progress. Let us work together to ensure a life of security, dignity and opportunity for all.
消除這種不平等是成功落實《2030年可持續發展議程》的關鍵。爲此，《議程》中列入了實現性別平等和增強所有婦女和女童權能的具體目標。值此世界人口日之際，我敦促各國政府、所有企業和民間社會爲少女提供支持和投資。每個人都應該從經濟增長和社會進步中受益。讓我們共同努力，確保所有人在一生中都享有安全、尊嚴和機會。