联合国秘书长潘基文2013年国际女童日致辞（中英对照）

Secretary-General’s Message on International Day of the Girl Child

秘书长国际女童日致辞

11 October 2013

2013年10月11日

Empowering girls, ensuring their human rights and addressing the discrimination and violence they face are essential to progress for the whole human family. One of the best ways to achieve all of these goals is to provide girls with the education they deserve.

增强女童权能，确保她们的人权，并克服其面临的歧视和暴力对整个人类大家庭的进步至关重要。为女童提供应享的教育是实现所有这些目标的最佳途径之一。

Yet too many girls in too many countries are held back simply because of their gender. Those whose mother was also deprived of an education, who live in a poor community, or who have a disability face an even steeper climb. Among girls who do make it to school, many face discrimination and violence.

然而，仅仅因为性别而得不到发展的女童实在太多，这种国家也未免太多。那些母亲也被剥夺教育机会、生活在穷乡僻壤、或身体残障的女童更是前途坎坷。能够上学的女童中，也有多人面临歧视与暴力。

I launched the Global Education First Initiative to accelerate progress in getting every child into school, especially girls. We are aiming to teach more than reading and counting; we are striving to raise global citizens who can rise to the complex challenges of the 21st century.

为了加速每个儿童（特别是女童）都能上学的进展速度，我推出了全球教育第一倡议。我们要教的不只是阅读和算术；我们力求培养能够应对21世纪复杂挑战的全球公民。

To achieve meaningful results, we need fresh solutions to girls’ education challenges and we must heed the voices of young people.

为了取得成效，我们需要以新的方式克服女童教育方面的挑战，而且我们必须倾听年轻人的声音。

I have heard from girls around the world participating in the consultations for the new Girl Declaration. I resolve to ensure that Global Education First mobilizes all partners to respond to their powerful call for empowerment.

我听到了在世界各地参加磋商新的《女童宣言》的女童声音。我决心确保 全球教育第一倡议发动所有伙伴，响应她们要求增加权能的呼声。

More broadly, our campaign to reach the Millennium Development Goals by 2015 and shape a vision beyond that date must address the concerns and potential of the world’s girls.

更广泛地说，我们争取在2015年之前实现千年发展目标并制定此后蓝图的工作必须针对全世界女童的关切问题，并发挥她们的潜力。

On this International Day of the Girl Child, let us work together to invest in education so that girls can advance in their personal development and contribute to our common future.

值此国际女童日，让我们齐心协力，为教育投资，使女童能够实现自身的发展，为我们的共同未来作贡献。