刘永凤在国际妇女论坛卡城分会主题年会演讲时间

刘永凤在国际妇女论坛卡城分会主题年会演讲时间:2011-02-22 11:22来源:口译网 作者:口译网 点击:1220次中国驻卡尔加里总领事刘永凤在国际妇女论坛卡城分会主题年会上的演讲2011年2月8日Keynote Speech by Consul General Liu Yongfeng at the International Womens Forum Chinese New Year DinnerFeb 8 2011 各位尊敬的来宾：Thank you, Kit, for the warm introduction.大家晚上好。能出席今天晚上的活动，尤其是能和在座这么多优秀的女性相聚，我感到很荣幸。I am honored to have been invited to this evenings gathering, particularly in the company of accomplished women.特别令我高兴的是，这次年会以庆祝中国农历新年为主题。我想，友谊的最好体现莫过于相互分享彼此的重要节日。借此机会，我愿向你们介绍一下现代中国妇女事业的发展状况。I am especially pleased that the International Womens Forum has chosen to celebrate the Chinese New Year. There is perhaps no greater sign of friendship than to share each others special occasions. I would like to take this opportunity to tell you about women in modern China.同西方社会一样，直到上世纪初，男性在中国社会中仍占据主导地位，女性几乎没有话语权，也不享受任何权益。中国妇女受压迫最明显的标志缠足，在20世纪初仍屡见不鲜。我的奶奶便是缠足的受害者之一，忍受了常人无法想象的痛苦和屈辱。As recent as the beginning of the last century, in China, as it was in the West, men dominated the society and women were subordinates. Women had almost no voice in the society and did not have rights or privileges. Perhaps the most infamous symbol of the oppression of Chinese women, foot-binding, went on until the beginning of the 20th century. My own grandmother was subjected to the agony and humiliation of foot-binding.可喜的是，100年前，辛亥革命推翻了中国的封建帝制，1949年，新中国成立后，中国政府采取了一系列措施提倡和保障男女平等，中国妇女地位得到了显著提升。It was not that long ago that the Chinese women were still so severely subjugated. But then it was not so long ago that there was an Emperor ruling China. But significant improvements have been made to womens status in Chinese society in the last sixty years.一是从法律上提供保障。中国宪法规定女性享有一切与男性同等的权利。中国政府还出台了各项法律法规，保护妇女在财产、继承、婚姻、受教育等社会生活方方面面的平等权益。1) In the past sixty years, the Chinese government has made important steps in the promotion and preservation of gender equality. The Chinese Constitution provides equal rights for men and women. Laws and regulations have been enacted to protect this equality in all areas of life, including ownership of property, inheritance, marriage and divorce, and educational opportunities.二是从组织上提供保障。中国政府设立了各种机构、组织来保障妇女权益。如卫生部、人力资源和社会保障部分别设立了妇幼保健司和就业促进司，以促进妇女健康和男女收入平等。为确保各行各业、各民族妇女的平等权益，各类非政府组织也纷纷成立。1949年成立的全国妇联将促进各少数民族妇女同胞的社会地位平等作为其工作的重要内容之一。近年来，在中国还先后组建了全国总工会女职工委员会、中国女企业家协会、全国女律师协会、女医师协会等妇女组织。目前，中国共有约27000个妇女儿童权益保护机构，致力于保障和提高妇女的权利和地位。2) Our government has set up committees and departments to promote and protect womens rights. For examples, the promotion of women health and income equality, which are perhaps the two most important women issues, are made the mandates of certain departments in our government: The Department of Community Health and Maternal & Child Health Care of the Ministry of Health is in charge of the promotion of women health. -And the Department of Labor and Wages of the Ministry of Labor and Social Security is in charge of the promotion of income equality. As well, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have been formed to further equality for women. As early as 1949, the All-China Womens Federation was established to promote the advancement of Chinese women of all ethnic groups in all walks of life and gender equality. In recent years, committees and associations have been formed, such as, the China Women Entrepreneurs Association, the Women Workers Committee of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions, China Women Judges Association, Society of Chinese Women Doctors, and many more, all working to ensure that the rights of women are protected in their special areas. There are also about 27,000 women and childrens rights protection agencies in China, all working towards the goal of achieving and protecting womens rights. 实际上，几乎每一个企、事业单位和各级政府机关内部，都有妇女组织。驻卡尔加里总领馆也有一个妇女工作小组，严萍女士就是这个小组的组长，她也参加了今天的活动。In fact, there is one women organization, almost within each independent enterprise or public institution and any level government department. We also have a women working group in our Consulate General in Calgary. And the chair of the group, Ms. Yan, is just sitting over there.在中国政府和全国人民的共同努力下，60年来，中国妇女事业的发展取得了显著成就：What have the joint efforts of government and civilians achieved in the last sixty years for gender equality in China?首先是妇女在中国的社会地位大幅提升。根据去年的统计，适龄女童小学入学率达99.54%；普通高校本专科在校女生比例占学生总数的49.86%，略高于女性在总人口中所占48.47%的比例；妇女人才在就业人口中所占比例达45.4；在公务员中的比例达到40以上。孕产妇死亡率从1950年的15下降至2003年的0.5。According to last years statistics, 99.54% of all school-age girls have access to elementary education, women represents 49.86% of the student population in advanced education. Considering only 48.47% of the population in China is female. It indicates that the ratio of women students in the women population is higher than its counterpart. it is quite an achievement! Women account for 45.5% of Chinas employed population and women officials account for over 40% of all government officials. The mortality rate of women giving birth in China had dropped from 15 per thousand in the 1950s to about 0.5 per thousand by 2003.其次是社会对女性的看法发生了巨大改变。以前，中国家庭更注重对男孩子的培养，而现在，中国家庭在培养子女时，不会因性别不同而存在差异。之前提到的女性在高等院校所占比例便很好地说明了这一转变。如果你看看周围，也会发现在卡尔加里留学的女生与男生几乎一样多。家庭、学校鼓励女生参加各类学术、体育、艺术活动，很多女生都能在公平竞争中取得优异成绩。Womens status in modern Chinese society has also improved, quite dramatically, in fact. Views about women have changed. Although traditionally, Chinese families favored sons over daughters, in modern Chinese society, dedication and devotion of families and their resources are lavished on daughters as much as sons. The percentage of women in advanced education is proof of this change in attitude. And if you look around you in your daily life, you will find just as many Chinese female foreign students in Calgary as there are male. Girls are encouraged to participate and excel in sports, artistic endeavors, and all other areas of achievements. Opportunities are afforded to both sons and daughters in modern Chinese families.中国城市的妇女大都受过良好教育，她们自信，有职业理想，收入不菲。她们中有医生、律师、法官、企业家，甚至宇航员。过去10年，福布斯中国10大首富榜单中每年至少有一名女性，这对我们大家都是一个巨大的鼓舞！Many women in modern urban China are well-educated, confident, assertive, career-minded, and well-paid. They are doctors, lawyers, judges, entrepreneurs, and even astronauts. Every year, in the past ten years, there is at least one woman within the Top 10 on the Forbes China Rich List! Marriage is now a choice, and not a must for modern Chinese women. The circumstances and attitudes of modern Chinese women are all helping to shift societal views of women of China.在当今中国社会，男性已不被认为比女性更优越。妻子或女友收入更高的情况比比皆是。中国妇女结婚后不改用丈夫的姓，有时孩子甚至继承母亲的姓。“结婚”对于中国现代女性来说，已成为一个选项，而非必须完成的任务。In modern China, men are no longer assumed to be superior to women. In many instances, wives or girlfriends, are now the higher-income earning partners, and are treated as equals. In modern China, women do not take their husbands last names after marriage, and sometimes, children even take their mothers last names, and not their fathers!当然，和其他国家一样，尽管中国的妇女事业取得了长足的发展，但某些地区、尤其是某些农村地区，性别歧视仍然存在。很多农村妇女的收入远低于男性，她们仍从属于丈夫，担任了照料家庭的传统角色。But of course, despite all the improvements and advances made in womens rights, as in elsewhere in the world, gender inequality still exists in China, particularly, in rural China. In rural China, many women are still earning substantially less than their male counterparts. They are still relegated to the traditional roles of serving the families and being subservient to men.但是，我相信男女平等是完全可以实现的。虽然还有很长的路要走，但我们不会放弃。我们已经取得了重大成绩，我们会继续坚持我们的努力。But change is coming. I am very hopeful, as I am sure you all are, that gender equality is achievable. It is just a long and difficult road. And we must not give up. We have already made significant changes, we just need to persevere.国际妇女论坛等国际组织为我们提供了沟通、联系的舞台，相信通过这张网络，我们能发挥更大潜能，为改善全世界妇女地位作出更大贡献。With organizations, such as the International Womens Forum, offering a global stage to meet and connect, providing the support and network for women around the world, I believe that we will be able to bring out our potential to continue to make great contribut