慶祝扶輪與聯合國密切的關係

Rotary, UN celebrate close relationship

 By Ryan Hyland

Rotary International News -- 9 November 2009

<左：國際扶輪社長John Kenny於11月7日在紐約舉辦扶輪聯合國日中歡迎一位社員。 Left: RI President John Kenny greets a Rotarian during Rotary-UN Day in New York City 7 November. >右：聯合國全球盟約副主任Gavin Power宣佈聯合國與國際扶輪將更緊密的合作來支援聯合國目標。 Right: Gavin Power, deputy director of the UN Global Compact, announces an agreement between the Global Compact and Rotary International to work closely together to support UN goals. Rotary Images

“扶輪與聯合國間長期的合作關係，再再證實當民間社會團體與國際組織攜手合作，即可達成一項偉大的任務。” 聯合國新聞部非政府組織秘書長瑪利亞-露易莎．查韋斯說道。

''Rotary's longstanding relationship with the United Nations is a great testament to the great achievements that can be attained when civil societies work hand-in-hand with international organizations,'' said Maria-Luisa Chavez, UN chief of NGO relations for the UN Department of Public Information.

這是查韋斯在2009年11月07日，假紐約市聯合國總部對於國際扶輪聯合國日的開幕致詞。現場超過1,600位的扶輪社友、聯合國官員、扶輪青少年計劃參與者出席水資源、識字、保健與青少年問題的小組討論。

Chavez's remarks opened Rotary-UN Day at United Nations headquarters in New York City on 7 November. More than 1,600 Rotarians, UN officials, and Rotary youth program participants attended panel discussions on water, literacy, health, and youth issues.

扶輪與聯合國的關係可以追溯到1945年，且對於任何一個負責監督絕大部分聯合國機構的經濟和社會會議非政府組織而言，扶輪具有最崇高的諮商地位。

Rotary, whose relationship with the UN dates back to 1945, holds the highest consultative status offered to any nongovernmental organization by the Economic and Social Council, which oversees many UN agencies.

今年度扶輪聯合國日的重點包括宣布一項協議，聯合國全球盟約與國際扶輪共同努力，透過不間斷並負責任的商業行為，以支持聯合國達成其目標。該倡議的目的是鼓勵聯合國全球盟約網及在全球超過33,000個的扶輪社，進行聯合活動及計畫。

This year's Rotary-UN Day included the announcement of an agreement between the UN Global Compact and Rotary International to work together to support UN goals through sustained and responsible business practices. The initiative aims to encourage Global Compact local networks and Rotary's more than 33,000 clubs to pursue joint activities and programs.

全球盟約副主任加文說到：“扶輪社的超我服務宗旨及四大考驗，非常符合聯合國的核心理想，並與全球盟約對於建立一個更加包容、公平、和不間斷的全球經濟使命是一致的。”

''Rotary clubs' guiding principles of Service Above Self and The Four-Way Test are really consistent with the UN's core ideals and the mission of the UN Global Compact, which is to build a more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable global economy,'' said Gavin Power, the Global Compact's deputy director.

聯合國全球盟約，2000年在世界各企業中開始陸續被簽署，旨在結合企業力量調整其業務和策略，包含了10項在人權、勞工、改善全球環境、與治理的基本原則。

The UN Global Compact, launched in 2000, is a strategic policy initiative for businesses that are committed to aligning their operations and strategies with 10 universally accepted principles in the areas of human rights, labor, environment, and anticorruption.

小組討論展現凝聚力

Panels show cohesiveness

談到水資源討論小組，聯合國兒童基金會主任尼古拉阿利普伊讚揚扶輪社，從不間斷地努力改善婦女和身處世界各地兒童的健康問題。

Speaking on a water panel, Nicholas Alipui, director of UNICEF programs, commended Rotary for its continued work with the agency toward improving the health of women and children around the world.

''扶輪對根除全球小兒麻痺的承諾、熱情與領導，已經不再是秘密，反而鼓勵全世界的人，''阿利普伊說到。''對各國來說，這種公家機關與私人民營單位良好的合作關係，可謂是個標誌性的良好做法。''

''It's no secret that Rotary's commitment, enthusiasm, and leadership on worldwide polio eradication encourages us all,'' said Alipui. ''It has been a hallmark of good practice of public and private partnership around the world.''

阿利普伊說聯合國千禧發展目標已有些許進展，其目標是在2015年前，減少貧困、飢餓、疾病與文盲。但他也補充說明，我們必須在環境衛生及個人衛生上，投入更多的心思。

Alipui said progress has been made on the UN Millennium Development Goals, which aim to reduce poverty, hunger, disease, and illiteracy by 2015. But he added that more work needs to be done in the area of sanitation and hygiene.

''適當的衛生條件，是改善健康和降低兒童死亡率的基礎''阿利普伊說到。''在扶輪社裡，最大的優勢就是人脈網絡，藉由此網絡，彼此之間互相協助，進而獲得更多更好的服務。''

''Proper sanitation is the bedrock for improving health and reducing child mortality,'' said Alipui. ''At Rotary, you have the strength of a large network of individuals who are able to draw upon many others to increase access to improved services.''

在根除文盲的會議小組中，美國兒童基金會總裁斯特恩女士指出，全世界成人文盲率已從百分之二十五下降至百分之二十。她說，這些接受過教育的女性，已經懂得如何改善她們的生活品質，這使得她們能夠照顧好未來的生活，並降低她們的小孩於5歲前死亡的機會。

During a panel on literacy, Caryl M. Stern, president of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF, noted that the adult illiteracy rate has decreased from 25 percent to 20 percent worldwide. She said that educating girls improves their prospects of being able to support themselves later in life and reduces the chance that their children will die before the age of five.

''根除文盲才能拯救生命''斯特恩女士說到。''教育是唯一能夠真正打破貧困循環的工具。''

''Literacy saves lives,'' said Stern. ''Education is the only tool in our arsenal that can truly interrupt the cycle of poverty.''

7070地區（安大略省，加拿大）前總監，同時身兼掃盲資源小組的協調員羅傑海沃德先生說到，根除文盲是扶輪社最重要的服務項目之一。

Roger Hayward, past governor of District 7070 (Ontario, Canada) and Literacy Resource Group area coordinator, said literacy is one of the top focuses of club projects.

獲奧斯卡提名的紀錄片最後英寸製作人湯姆格蘭特先生在衛生事務小組上指出，能夠成功地完成這部紀錄片，最關鍵的部份就是扶輪社的志工，在印度對疾病中的兒童接種免疫，努力在疾病的最前線根除小兒麻痺。

Tom Grant, producer of the Academy Award-nominated documentary The Final Inch , addressed the health panel. He said that talking with Rotary about its frontline efforts to eradicate polio was crucial to the success of the film, which chronicled volunteers' work to immunize children against the disease in India.

聯合國兒童基金會資深衛生專家愛德華胡克斯特拉博士表示，扶輪社根除小兒麻痺的成果，只是扶輪社能夠改善世界健康的一個小小例子。

Dr. Edward Hoekstra, senior health specialist in UNICEF's Program Division, said Rotary's effort to eradicate polio is just one example of its ability to affect world health.

''與聯合國共同合作、以及與世界其他地區相連結，扶輪社一直以來都被公認是一個完善的組織，''胡克斯特拉博士說到，''若是參予這項活動，你也可以被如此認同。''

''Rotary has been such a wonderful organization, connecting through the UN and to the rest of the world,'' said Hoekstra. ''You have been remarkable.''

這次活動還包括前Interactor索菲亞哈米德小姐和扶青團員安妮夏洛特佩林小姐的經驗分享。

The event also featured former Interactor Sophia Hameed and Rotaractor Anne-Charlotte Perrin, who spoke about their experiences as Rotary youth program participants.

扶輪青少分享是在上午另外舉行的。

A youth program was conducted separately during the morning session.

國際扶輪社長約翰肯尼先生告訴與會者說，扶輪社和聯合國皆有一個共同的願景，就是要的一個和平的世界。

RI President John Kenny told attendees that Rotary and the UN share a common vision of a peaceful world.

''如同世界各地扶輪社，每年的服務項目一樣，我們此次的工作也可與聯合國合作，得到他們的支持、建立我們的資源，使大眾了解，''肯尼說到。 ''國際扶輪社以及每個扶輪社友，皆能夠支持和鼓舞聯合國官員和志工。''

''Just as Rotary clubs from around the world partner with each other for projects, so too can we work with UN agencies to gain support, to build our resources, and to generate public awareness,'' said Kenny. ''Rotary International and every Rotarian can support and inspire UN officials and volunteers.''