联合国秘书长潘基文2013年国际减灾日致辞（中英对照）

Secretary-General’s Message on International Day for Disaster Reduction

秘书长国际减灾日致辞

13 October 2013

2013年10月13日

“Persons with disabilities are the biggest untapped resource for disaster planners around the world.”  These are the words of Firoz Ali Alizada, a double amputee from Afghanistan who responded to a United Nations survey which uncovered scores of stories that speak to the ingenuity and drive of persons with disabilities to manage risk from disasters.

“对世界各地的抗灾规划人员来说，残疾人是最大的尚未挖掘的潜力。”这是费洛兹·阿里·阿里扎达说的话，这位双腿截肢的阿富汗人回答了联合国的一项调查。在这项调查中涌现了很多故事，显示出残疾人应对灾害风险的聪明才智和奋斗精神。

More than one billion persons in the world live with a disability.  This year’s commemoration of the International Day for Disaster Reduction is an opportunity to recognize their vital role in fostering resilience.

世界上身有残疾的人超过10亿。借今年国际减灾日之际，要表彰残疾人在增强复原力方面的攸关作用。

Unfortunately, most persons with disabilities have never participated in disaster risk management or related planning and decision making processes.  They suffer disproportionately high levels of disaster-related mortality and injuries.

令人遗憾的是，大多数残疾人从未参与过应对灾害风险工作或相关规划和决策过程。但在发生灾害时，残疾人失去生命和受伤的比例却过高。

Early warning systems, public awareness campaigns and other responses often fail to consider the needs of persons with disabilities, putting them at an unnecessarily elevated risk and sending a harmful message of inequality.

抗灾预警系统、公共宣传和其他应对措施往往没有考虑到残疾人的需要，使他们面临可以避免的加倍风险，发出一种有害的不平等信息。

We can change this situation by including persons with disabilities in disaster resilience initiatives and policy planning.  The recent General Assembly High-level Meeting on Disability and Development recognized the urgent need for action on this issue, which is also addressed in the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. 

我们可以改变这种情况，那就是让残疾人参与抗灾活动和决策。最近举行的关于残疾与发展问题的高级别会议承认，迫切需要就此问题采取行动，《残疾人权利公约》对此也有阐述。

Inclusion saves lives. And it empowers persons with disabilities to take ownership of their own safety – and that of their community.

参与攸关生死。参与让残疾人增强能力，掌握自己及其所在集体的安全。

We can already see their potential contribution in the many persons with visible and invisible disabilities around the world who already serve as volunteers and workers helping communities when disaster hits to cope and bounce back.

世界各地已经有很多身有可见或不可见残疾的人在发生灾害时以志愿人员和工作人员的身份帮助社区抗灾和进行灾后恢复。从他们身上我们可以看到残疾人的潜力和能够作出的贡献。

On the International Day for Disaster Reduction, let us resolve to do everything possible to ensure that all persons with disabilities have the highest possible levels of safety and the greatest possible chance to contribute to the overall wellbeing of society. Let us build an inclusive world where persons with disabilities can play an even greater role as resourceful agents of change.

在此国际减灾日，让我们下决心尽一切可能，确保所有残疾人能得到最大的安全保障，并尽可能使他们有机会为整个社会的康泰作出贡献。让我们建设一个属于大家的世界。在这样的世界里残疾人能够凭借其聪明才智，发挥更大的作用，促进变革。