Secretary-General’s Message on International Day of Democracy

秘書長國際民主日致辭

15 September 2013

2013年9月15日

This year’s International Day of Democracy falls amid volatile political transitions in several countries, prolonged economic crisis, and dramatic demographic and social change. These events all underscore the need to strengthen people’s voices in how they are governed – an imperative that lies at the heart of democracy。今年國際民主日來臨之際，一些國家正處于動蕩的政治過渡之中，經(jīng)濟(jì)危機(jī)曠日持久，人口和社會發(fā)生劇烈變化。所有這些事件充分說明，必須讓人們對治理方式發(fā)出更強(qiáng)的聲音——這是處于民主核心的當(dāng)務(wù)之急。

Despite advances in civic engagement, apathy has become democracy’s most insidious enemy in a growing number of societies. Inclusive participation is the antidote. It is not only an end in itself, it prepares communities, societies and entire countries to address opposing points of view, forge compromises and solutions, and engage in constructive

criticism and deliberations. Inclusive participation helps communities develop functioning forms of democracy for government, corporations and civil society。盡管公民參與取得了進(jìn)展，但在越來越多的社會中，冷漠已成為民主最陰險的敵人。包容性參與是冷漠的解毒劑。包容性參與不但本身就是目的，而且促使社區(qū)、社會和整個國家化解對立觀點(diǎn)，達(dá)成妥協(xié)和解決辦法，開展建設(shè)性批評和討論。包容性參與幫助各社區(qū)制定政府、公司和民間社會的民主運(yùn)作形式。

We live in a new era of ever-greater possibilities for individuals to obtain information and influence decision-making, facilitated by evolving technologies. These can help people to play a more direct role in areas that I consider the most immediate global priorities for our age: reducing inequalities; preventing armed conflict and building a safer and more secure world; supporting nations in transition; empowering women and young people; and advancing sustainable development。我們生活在這樣一個新時代，個人有更大的可能性借助不斷發(fā)展的技術(shù)獲取信息和影響決策。這些可以幫助人們在我認(rèn)為是我們這個時代最緊迫的全球優(yōu)先事項(xiàng)的各個領(lǐng)域發(fā)揮更直接的作用：減少不平等現(xiàn)象;防止武裝沖突和建設(shè)一個更安全和更有保障的世界;支持轉(zhuǎn)型期國家;增進(jìn)婦女和青年權(quán)能;推動可持續(xù)發(fā)展。

As we strive to accelerate progress on attaining the Millennium Development Goals by the target date of 2015, we are shaping a vision for development beyond that year. Global consultations

on the post-2015 development agenda – in themselves an unprecedented effort to bring people’s voices to international policy-making – have re-affirmed

the importance of putting people at the heart of development. The million voices represented in the UN’s MY World survey overwhelmingly call for open and responsive government, placing this in the top three goals they seek in a future development agenda。隨著我們?yōu)樵?015年目標(biāo)日期之前實(shí)現(xiàn)千年發(fā)展目標(biāo)而努力加速進(jìn)展，我們正在形成2015年后的發(fā)展愿景。關(guān)于2015年后發(fā)展議程的全球協(xié)商——這本身就是一項(xiàng)使國際政策的制定聆聽人民聲音的前所未有的努力——重申必須以人為發(fā)展的中心。參加聯(lián)合國“我的世界”調(diào)查的數(shù)百萬人的聲音強(qiáng)烈要求開放和順應(yīng)民意的政府，將這一要求作為他們追求的未來發(fā)展議程三大目標(biāo)之一。

On this International Day of Democracy, I call on leaders to hear, respect and respond appropriately

to the voices of the people, whether expressed directly or through elected representatives. I call on the world’s citizens to think about how they can use their voice to not only take control of their destiny, but to translate their desires and the desires of others into a better future for all。值此國際民主日之際，我呼吁各國領(lǐng)導(dǎo)人傾聽、尊重并適當(dāng)?shù)仨憫?yīng)人民的聲音，無論這些聲音是直接表達(dá)的，還是通過選舉產(chǎn)生的代表表達(dá)的。我呼吁世界公民們思考，如何通過發(fā)出自己的聲音，不僅掌握自己的命運(yùn)，而且將自己的愿望和其他人的愿望轉(zhuǎn)變成為所有人一個更加美好的未來。

Speak out. Participate. Reach out to understand and listen to those who may be weaker or more vulnerable than you. We all have an equal stake in our shared future. Today, let us commit to ensuring that each of us can and does play our part to the full。敢于說話。參與。努力了解和傾聽那些可能比你更為弱勢或更容易受傷害者的聲音。我們所有人對我們共同的未來都有一份平等的責(zé)任。今天，讓我們致力于確保我們每個人都能夠而且確實(shí)充分發(fā)揮了我們的作用。