聯合國祕書長潘基文年國際寡婦日致辭

UN Secretary-General's Message on International Widows' Day
23 June, 2011
聯合國祕書長潘基文國際寡婦日致辭
2011年6月23日

This first International Widows' Day is an occasion to call attention to the many "firsts" that women must face when their husbands die. In addition to coping with grief, they may find themselves for the first time since marriage without any social safety net. Far too often, widows lack access to inheritance, land tenure, employment and even the means to survive.
今年是第一次開展國際寡婦日活動，在這個日子裏，我們呼籲人們關注婦女在丈夫死亡後必須“第一次”面對的許多問題。婦女不僅陷入悲痛，而且還可能在結婚後第一次發現她們沒有任何社會安全網。寡婦往往不能繼承財產，沒有土地保有權，不能就業，甚至沒有生存的手段。

In places where a widow's status is linked to her husband, she may find herself suddenly shunned and isolated. Marriage – whether she desires it or not – may be the only way for a widow to regain her footing in society.
在寡婦的地位與丈夫緊密相聯的地方，寡婦可能發現人們突然躲避她，她陷入孤立無援的境地。無論寡婦是否願意，結婚可能是她在社會重新立腳的唯一途徑。

Of the approximately 245 million widows in our world, more than 115 live in extreme poverty. In countries embroiled in conflicts, women are often widowed young and must bear the heavy burden of caring for their children amid fighting and displacement with no help or support.
全世界約有2.45億寡婦，其中超過1.15億人生活極端貧困。在衝突不斷的國家，婦女往往年輕就守寡，不得不在戰火中和顛沛流離的生活中肩負起照顧子女的重擔，她們得不到任何幫助或支持。

Some of these widows are teenagers – or even younger. The death of their husbands can leave a terrible legacy these widows must endure throughout their remaining years.
一些寡婦仍然是少女，有的甚至更年輕。丈夫死亡後，給寡婦們留下的可能是終身噩夢。

All widows should be protected by the rights enshrined in the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and other international human rights treaties.
《消除對婦女一切形式歧視公約》和其他國際人權條約莊嚴載有各項權利，應可保護所有寡婦。

But in reality, interpretations of customary codes, as well as traditional mourning and burial rites, often deny widows virtually all of their universally recognized rights.
但在現實中，對習慣法規的各種解讀以及傳統的喪葬禮儀往往剝奪了寡婦幾乎所有的普遍公認權利。

Despite the many difficulties widows face, many make valuable contributions to their countries and communities. Some take on leadership roles at the highest levels. Others work in their families, taking in orphans, serving as caregivers and reaching across lines of conflict to mend tears in the social fabric.
雖然寡婦面臨許多困難，但許多人依然對國家和社區作出了寶貴貢獻。一些人在最高級別發揮領導作用。其他人則在家裏工作，收養孤兒，照顧他人，跨越衝突線，修補社會組織出現的裂痕。

We must recognize the important contribution of widows, and we must ensure that they enjoy the rights and social protections they deserve.
我們必須承認寡婦的重要貢獻，我們必須確保她們享有她們應得的權利和社會保障。

Death is inevitable, but we can reduce the suffering that widows endure by raising their status and helping them in their hour of need. This will contribute to promoting the full and equal participation of all women in society. And that will bring us closer to ending poverty and promoting peace around the world.
死亡是不可避免的，但我們可以提高寡婦的地位，在她們最需要幫助的時刻幫助她們，減輕她們的痛苦。這將有助於促進所有婦女充分和平等地參與社會。而這又將使我們進一步接近消除貧窮和促進世界和平的目標。