联合国秘书长潘基文2015年认识虐待老年人问题世界日致辞（中英对照）

Message on World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

认识虐待老年人问题世界日致辞

15 June 2015

2015年6月15日

It is a disturbing and tragic fact in our world that members of the older generations are too often neglected and abused. This painful reality generally goes ignored by mainstream society. At the same time, the ageing of the world’s population has added urgency to promoting and defending the rights of older persons, who are expected to make up more than 20 per cent of the global population by 2050.

在我们的世界里，老一代人经常遭到冷落和虐待，这是一个令人不安和哀叹的事实。这个令人心痛的现实一般不会引起主流社会的注意。与此同时，世界人口正在老龄化，预计到2050年将占全球总人口的20％以上，这更为促进和捍卫老年人的权利增添了紧迫感。

Resolved to shed light on this injustice, the United Nations General Assembly has designated 15 June as World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. The annual commemoration has helped to generate an emerging global discussion of a once-taboo issue as people come together to support the rights of older persons to a life free of violence and abuse.

联合国大会决定让人们看到这种不公平现象，因此指定6月15日为认识虐待老年人问题世界日。一年一度的纪念活动有助于让全世界都讨论这个曾经讳莫如深的问题，让人们聚集起来支持老年人的权利，帮助他们过上没有暴力和虐待的生活。

For many, elder abuse conjures an image of a heartless caregiver who is not well-known to the victim. While this deplorable problem does persist, more often it is family members who perpetrate the violations, which include neglect as well as psychological, financial and physical abuse. Research shows that age, gender and dependency raise the risks of abuses, with women suffering the heaviest toll.

对许多人而言，一谈起虐待老年人，就会想起受害者不熟悉的无情看护人形象。虽然这个令人扼腕的问题确实仍然存在，但在更多情况下，虐待者就是自己的家人，虐待行为包括冷落以及心理、金钱和人身虐待。研究表明，年龄、性别和依赖提高了虐待风险，妇女受到的虐待尤甚。

On this Day, the United Nations is joining with partners around the world to organize activities focused on finding solutions. I call on all people to support this effort.

今天，联合国正在同世界各地的合作伙伴一道组织各种活动，专心寻找解决办法。我呼吁所有人都支持这一努力。

The distressing crime of elder abuse often occurs in quiet, private settings, making a vocal, public response that much more important. Let us strengthen our resolve to end this problem as part of our broader efforts to create a life of dignity for all.

虐待老年人这种恼人的罪行经常发生在安静、私密的环境下，因此，发出公开的应对声音就更加重要。让我们以更大的决心来消除这个问题，并做出更广泛的努力，让所有人都过上有尊严的生活。