Remarks by President Obama at Civil Society Roundtable-美国奥巴马总统就公民组织在圆桌会议上谈话.doc

Remarks by President Obama at Civil Society Roundtable美国奥巴马总统就公民组织在圆桌会议上的谈话New York Hilton Hotel MidtownNew York, New York纽约希尔顿酒店 纽约市，纽约州3:02 P.M. EDT 美国东部时间 15:02PRESIDENT OBAMA: Thank you very much, everybody, for joining us here today. And I want to offer a few brief remarks in terms of the purpose of this meeting. Weve got a wonderful panel here and some extraordinary representatives - both heads of states, members of civil society, people who have been working on these issues for a very long time.奥巴马总统：非常感谢大家今天的到来。首先，我想就今天这个会议的目的说一些简短的想法。今天，我们现场有一只顶级专家组以及一些杰出的代表。他们都是各个国家的领头人物，同时也是公民组织的成员，他们在公民组织的这个领域上已经努力研究工作很久了。The focus today is on civil society, because its my strong belief that the strength and success of all countries and all regions depends in part on protecting and supporting civil society.今天会议的重点是公民组织，我坚信各个国家与民族的繁荣富强离不开对公民组织的保护与支持。 The human progress has always been propelled at some level by what happens in civil society - citizens coming together to insist that a better life is possible, pushing their leaders to protect the rights and the dignities of all people. And thats why the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that “everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.” This is not a Western value; this is a universal right.人类进步在某些程度上来说有赖于公民组织公民们聚集在一起，他们坚信生活可以更美好，他们努力争取要求自己的领导人保护所有人民的权利与尊严。这同时也呼应了世界人权宣言中的陈述人人享有与平集会与结社自由的权利。这种权利并不只是符合西方的价值观，而是一种普世权利。And civil society led the fight to end apartheid in South Africa. It led the fight to bring freedom to Eastern Europe. It helped to heal places divided by conflict, whether in Cambodia or Colombia. Here, in the United States, civil society has been the catalyst for virtually every major advance that weve made - from the abolition of slavery to womens rights, civil rights, the protections of workers and the protections of the environment.是公民组织领导的起义终结了南非的种族隔离制度。是公民组织领导的运动带给东欧国家自由。公民组织帮助调停地区间的冲突，无论是在柬埔寨还是哥伦比亚。再来看看美国，可以说，公民组织对这个国家历史上每次重大的进步都起到了推动作用从奴隶制的废除到女权运动、民权运动，再到对工人的保护与对环境的保护。And yet, still today, in every region, we see that the fight goes on. We have citizens who are leading the charge to expand opportunity, to correct injustices, to shape their countries futures. And its my belief that strong nations recognize the values of active citizens. They support and empower their citizens rather than stand in their way, even when its inconvenient - or perhaps especially when its inconvenient - for government leaders.现在，直至今日，在每个地区，我们看到奋斗还在继续。有许多公民在带头争取更多的机会、伸张正义、在为自己祖国美好的未来而努力。我相信强国们肯定可以认识到这些为国家而努力的公民的价值。他们会允许并支持这些公民，而不是切断他们的去路，即使这些人要做的事可能对政府不利或者说特别是当这些事会对政府领导人不利。Strong civil societies help uphold universal human rights. They promote good governance by making governments more effective and holding leaders like me to account. And theyre critical to economic development, because in our global economy, trade and investment flows to countries that give citizens the freedom to create and develop new ideas and that are protected by rule of law.强大的公民组织支持普世权利。他们通过促进政府工作更加有效以及要求包括我在内的国家领导人负起责任来推广民主政治。这些对于经济发展来说至关重要，因为在经济全球化的背景下，贸易与投资的浪潮赋予了公民创造发展新想法的自由，同时这也是法律所保护的。So, many countries, including those in this room, are working in partnership with civil societies. From Mongolia to Mexico, Tunisia, Tanzania, governments and citizens are working together to improve the rule of law, reduce wasteful spending, organize public campaigns to strengthen health and education.因此，许多国家，包括今天在场的，都在努力地与公民组织合作。从蒙古到墨西哥、突尼斯、坦桑尼亚，这些国家的政府与公民们在一起努力完善法律制度，减少不必要的支出，组织公共运动来加强卫生与教育。Unfortunately, though, what were also seeing is a growing number of countries that are passing laws designed specifically to stifle civil society. Theyre forcing groups to register with governments, eroding human rights protections, restricting NGOs from accessing foreign funding, cracking down on communications technologies that connect civil society groups around the globe. 然而，不幸的是，有越来越多的国家通过了一些专门扼杀公民组织的法律。他们强制公民组织到政府登记，削弱对人权的保护，限制非政府组织得到其他国家的资金，切断公民组织与世界联系的途径。So, in recent years, the international community has stepped up our support. Two years ago, some of you recall, we came together to launch the Open Government Partnership to promote transparent, effective and accountable institutions in partnership with civil society. Sixty countries and a broad coalition of civil society and private sector partners have joined. The Community of Democracies is working to take aim at restrictive laws. The Human Rights Council established the first Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Peaceful Assembly and Association. And several governments and foundations, including many in this room, contribute to a “Lifeline” fund for emergency aid to civil society groups under threat.所以，近几年国际社会已经向公民组织提供帮助。你们中的一些人应该还记得，两年前我们曾一起在开放性政府伙伴关系会议上，那次会议的目的是通过完善透明、高效及负责的体系与公民组织建立伙伴关系。到目前为止已经有60个国家、一个广泛的社会组织联盟与一些私营企业伙伴加入。民主共同体在竭尽全力确保没有限制公民组织的法律出现。人权理事会成立了第一支保护公民与平集会与结社权利的特别报告员队伍。另外，一些国家的政府与组织，包括今天在场的，在致力建立一个“生命线”基金组织，这个组织旨在当某些公民组织面临威胁时，为它们提供紧急救援。So Ive made a point to meet with civil society worldwide. Virtually, every foreign trip that I take I carve out time to meet with citizens who are active on a whole range of issues. And, in part, its to lift up the good work theyre doing and affirm that the United States stands behind their efforts. Nevertheless, we have to recognize that the crackdown continues and we urgently need to do more to increase global attention and spur global action. So thats why were here.因此，我一直在与各国的公民组织接触。实际上，每次到国外出访我都会尽可能挤出一点时间，与当地关心国家大事的公民见面。在某种程度上，这些举动能够激励他们继续做现在正在做的工作，同时也在向他们传递美国会一直支持他们的信号。尽管如此，我们要清楚公民组织任然时刻面临着威胁与挑战。公民组织亟需全球的关注与帮助。这同时也是大家齐聚于此的原因。Im challenging all of us to use the next 12 months to make progress in three key areas. First, we have to identify specific steps that countries, including the United States, can take to make it easier for civil society to do its job and to encourage governments to embrace civil society groups as partners.我呼吁在座的各位在接下来的一年里尽量做到以下关键三点：第一，各个国家，包括美国，制订实质性的法律制度来确保公民组织能更方便地做其工作。另外，鼓励各国政府尊重公民组织并与它们与平相处。Number two, we need to do more to stand against restrictions on civil society and better coordinate our diplomacy when the government tries to stifle civil society. I think its critical that the international community should be working together to ensure that there are actual consequences.第二，与限制公民组织发展的行为斗争到底，同时各国应该利用外交合作来防止政府抑制公民组织的事件出现。此外，我呼吁国际社会一起合作，确保我们的努力有所成效。And number three, we have to find new and better ways to support civil society in difficult circumstances. Governments that restrict civil society are sharing their worst practices. Weve got to make sure that were sharing our best practices and doing all we can to help civil society succeed.第三，思考当公民组织面临困难与挑战时该用什么对策。那些限制公民组织发展的政府互相分享各自对付公民组织的方法。在这方面我们应该向他们学习，互相分享保护公民组织的对策，并且一起努力帮助公民组织。* * * * *PRESIDENT OBAMA: Let me just comment on a couple of points that you just made.奥巴马总统：现在我就各位刚刚的发言发表一些意见。Number one, it is true that many countries that are trying to restrict civil society may pass laws and then theyll argue that theyre observing the law and civil society groups are not observing the law. But this is why I think developing institutional structures that constrain what government can do is so important.首先，那些通过制定法律制度来限制公民组织的国家确实声称自己在“依法行事”，而公民组织没有遵守法律。这也正是我认为建立发展限制政府权力的体制结构是非常有必要的原因。And you mentioned the trip that I took to Africa. I specifically met with the chief justices from a number of countries, because an independent judiciary that is properly functioning and properly financed can serve as an important protector of civil society. Unfortunately, what we see in a lot of countries is that the resources for a judiciary, for the proper application of the laws are often significantly compromised.另外，有人提到了我到非洲的访问。我特地会见了一些国家的首席法官，原因是一个正常运行与得到适当资助的独立司法系统能够在很大程度上保护公民组织。可惜的是，我们看到在很多国家，司法系统与法律制定的资金常常不能做到到位。And one of the things that I think all of us as heads of state can do in supporting these efforts is make sure that when we look at our aid programs, when we look at our diplomatic efforts, that we are not ignoring some of those institutional bodies that offer some measures of relief or potential protection for the civil society organizations that are taking place. It also means, though, civil society activists have to think strategically about what is it that theyre promoting. And if you have an environmental organization, a human rights organization, an economic cooperative - on the surface, their issues may be different, but theyll all have an interest potentially in fighting a registration law in the country that makes it more difficult for them to operate.为支持这些努力，我认为在场的各国首脑能够做的是确保当我们查看援助计划时、当我们思考外交努力时，我们没有忽视那些在为公民组织提供救济并且保护公民组织的机构组织。不过，这同时也意味着，那些公民组织的积极分子应该进行战略性的思考关于自己到底在做什么样的工作。另外，如果在你们的国家有环境组织、人权组织或经济合作组织，或许表面上它们看起来没有什么联系，但是也许将来的某一天它们会合作共同与阻碍它们运行的“登记法”作斗争。Now, one of the biggest challenges that were seeing when it comes to civil society is the issue of financial support. Historically, weve seen support, including from institutions based here in the United States. That then becomes an excuse for governments who say, well, civil society is being funded by outsiders and is in some fashion undermining our sovereignty. And this is where I think philanthropic organizations can make an enormous impact.现在，我们面临的最大的难题之一是资金问题。回顾以往，我们能够看到对公民组织的资助，包括来自于一些美国机构组织。后来这就成了一些政府的借口，他们说既然公民组织的资金来自国外，在某种程度上，这损害了国家权益。因此，我认为慈善组织能起到巨大的影响。* * * * *PRESIDENT OBAMA: Well, first of all, I want to thank all who spoke for their outstanding contributions. Let me just make a few closing remarks.奥巴马总统：首先，我想感谢所有刚刚发言为自己所做工作辩护的同志。现在请让我做一点总结。Number one, the fact that Im here I think indicates the degree to which the United States takes this very seriously. The work is hard, and sometimes you take a step back for every two steps forward. Certainly, that was the history here in the United States; Dr. King has been mentioned several times.首先，我作为美国总统，今天的到场表明了美国对公民组织这个问题的重视程度。这场战役注定是一场长久战，有时我们前进两步就会退后一步。这样的例子美国历史上出现了很多次，马丁路德金博士曾经提到过很多次。Now, those of us who head up governments in this room, I think we have to recognize that were interacting with our colleagues from other countries that may not have as much respect for civil society as we do, that we have a lot of business to transact - and there are security issues and there are trade issues and there are energy issues. And I recently spoke with some civil society groups in Russia, and I was very honest with them. I said, as President of the United States, Ive got to take all those issues into account. I cant only talk about civil society and human rights issues in a bilateral meeting; Im going to have to talk about a whole range of things.对于今天在场的各国的政府领导们，我认为我们必须要意识到，有些国家的政府领导们可能不像我们那样尊重公民组织，所以我们要做的工作还有很多：像安全问题、贸易问题、能源问题，等等。前段时间，我在俄罗斯与当地一些公民组织的代表谈话时时，我把自己真实的想法跟他们说了。我告诉他们，作为美国总统，我要把这些问题都考虑在内，而不是在一个双边会议上仅仅讨论公民组织问题与人权问题。我要讨论的话题涵盖很多的领域。But what is also true is, me making a statement that this is important, bringing it up in a bilateral meeting makes a difference. It gives other countries pause. It makes them reflect on whether or not they are doing what they should be doing. And so I would just urge those of us who have that capacity to make sure that this is on our agenda. Its not the only agenda, but it is an important aspect of the agenda, and us bringing it up does make a difference.但是，我们要知道在一个双边会议上把这个话题提出来是非常重要与有必要的。这会让其它国家停下来思考它们是否偏离了正确的轨道。因此，我在这里鼓励大家都能把这个放在自己的议程上。这并不是我们议程上唯一的条目，但是却是非常重要的一项。要知道，把这一项加到议程上结果可能大不相同。I would also say that its important, as has already been noted, that we dont just issue strong pronouncements, but we also have action behind it. And a number of specific things have already been mentioned: Making sure that were sharing best practices effectively. What Doug talked about in terms of gathering model laws, essentially, that then could empower Otto and others who are in the field to say, this is what would help us in terms of providing protections. Thats something very specific that we can do.另外我要强调，正如我在前面已经提到过，我们不只是发表声明，在这之后会有实际行动。就如之前说的：互相分享保护公民组织的对策。至于道格提到的制订示范法，鉴于其目的在于使奥托与其它成员更强大，应该能够保护到公民组织。这些都是我们能够具体落实的行动。Making sure that we find ways to adequately fund civil society groups in ways that are less easily characterized as being tools of the United States or Western powers - I think thats an area where philanthropy can make a big difference. And Ive talked to my team about are there ways in which we could internationalize funding for these efforts so that theyre less easily caricatured.确保为公民组织提供资助的途径恰当，避免被认为是美国或西方势力进行渗透的做法。关于这方面，我认为慈善组织能够发挥它们的作用。我已经与我的团队讨论过是否能把这些资助途径国际化，不被质疑。I also think its going to be important for us to continue to shine the spotlight on the issue and publicize these issues in more effective ways, particularly at a time when much of the efforts that weve heard about have to do with restricting access to the Internet - are there ways that we can use the Internet more effectively to open up space rather than to see that space closed.此外，我认为我们应该增加公民组织问题的曝光率，更有效地宣传这些话题，特别是在当像我们听说网络途径被限制时，我们是否能够为他们解决这样的问题而不是眼睁睁的看着这样的问题发生。So the instructions to my team and my government are that we are going to put our full support behind these efforts. What we want to see is concrete outcomes, not just window-dressing. We will continue to try to mobilize as many countries as possible to get involved in this process. And we do so because, ultimately, we