相關(guān)詞語 Related Words and Expressions
sexual harassment 性騷擾
rampant 猖獗;遏制不住
triple (使)三倍于;(使)成三倍
quadruple (使)四倍于;(使)成四倍
toll (健康、生命等因疾病,意外事件而付出的)代價;
be sexually assaulted 遭受性侵害
UNICEF----United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund 聯(lián)合國兒童基金會
Gender discrimination is widespread in almost every aspect of U.S. society. American women have not yet enjoyed equal constitutional rights compared with men. Women in the United States not only have a weak voice in politics, but also are discriminated against in terms of employment, job status and wages. The labor protection standards for women are below the international norms, and sexual violence, sexual harassment and domestic violence against women are also rampant in the United States.
A report released in November 2000 by an American institute studying the policy on women showed that women are paid an average of 26 percent less than their male colleagues. The number of female prisoners has been increasing markedly in the United States, and they often are the victims of various abuses. Since 1980, the number of prisoners In the United States has tripled, while that of female prisoners has quadrupled. A report released by the U.S. Government in December 1999 showed that accusation against jail officers of sexual abuse and other negligent behavior are widespread and criminal prosecution of prison guards for abuse of power has been on the rise.
The majority of female prisoners who have been sexually assaulted cannot get access to adequate legal protection. The state of Michigan stipulates explicitly that prisoners are not protected by civil rights laws.
Many children in the United States are threatened by poverty. According to an investigation conducted by UNICEF, the poverty rate of children in the United States ranks second among the 29 members of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.
In the United States, at least 290,000 children are working in factories, mines and farms where working conditions are dangerous. Children working on farms often have to work 20 hours a day and run the risk of pesticide poisoning, injury and permanent disability. They account for 8 percent of the country’s total child workers, while the job-related deaths among them make up 40 percent of the country’s total occupational death toll. Among these child farm laborers, merely 55 percent have graduated from high school. It is estimated that there are one million cases of human rights violations against these child farm workers in the Untied States every year.