爱思英语编者按：3月21日是联合国确定的消除种族歧视国际日 (International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination) 。每年的这一天，联合国和世界许多国家都要举行各种活动，以纪念“沙佩维尔惨案”和呼吁人们反对种族歧视。

Secretary-General’s Message on International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
秘书长消除种族歧视国际日致辞

21 March 2014
2014年3月21日

This year, the world commemorates the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination for the first time following the death of former South African President Nelson Mandela.

今年是国际社会在前南非总统纳尔逊·曼德拉逝世后纪念的第一个消除种族歧视国际日。

This sad reality is also a reminder of his courageous struggle against apartheid and his inspiring victory over the racist forces that had imprisoned him for 27 years.

他的逝世令人悲伤，但也唤醒世人对他勇斗种族隔离制度的记忆，他战胜了将他囚禁长达27年的种族主义势力，他的胜利令人鼓舞。

The United Nations General Assembly, in a show of solidarity with the anti-apartheid movement, established this Day to commemorate the 1960 Sharpeville Massacre, when 69 people were killed and many others injured as police opened fire on a peaceful protest against South Africa’s appalling pass laws.

联合国大会为声援反种族隔离运动而颁布了这个国际日，以纪念1960年发生的沙佩维尔大屠杀，当年，人民和平示威，抗议南非邪恶的通行证法，警察却对和平示威人群开枪，致使69人死亡，许多人受伤。

Nelson Mandela’s journey from prisoner to President was the triumph of an extraordinary individual against the forces of hate, ignorance and fear – and it was a testimony to the power of courage, reconciliation and forgiveness to overcome the injustice of racial discrimination.

纳尔逊·曼德拉从囚徒到总统的历程是一位杰出人士战胜仇恨、无知和恐惧势力的历程，是勇气、和解和容恕的力量战胜种族歧视这种不公正现象的明证。

He chose Sharpeville for the historic signing of South Africa’s new Constitution in 1996. On that occasion, President Mandela said, “Out of the many Sharpevilles which haunt our history was born the unshakeable determination that respect for human life, liberty and well-being must be enshrined as rights beyond the power of any force to diminish.”

1996年，他选择在沙佩维尔签署南非新《宪法》，具有历史意义。当时，曼德拉总统说，“我们的历史上有过许许多多的沙佩维尔事件，这些事件淬炼了我们不可动摇的决心，我们决心让人类生命、自由和福祉成为任何力量都不可削弱的神圣权利。”

Today, we remember Sharpeville as a symbol of the terrible toll of racial discrimination, and we honour those who lost their lives during the massacre. At the same time, we recall that President Mandela framed Sharpeville’s legacy as an unwavering resolve to protect the dignity and rights of all people.

今天，我们纪念沙佩维尔事件，这次事件是种族歧视沉重代价的象征，我们缅怀在大屠杀中丧生的人。与此同时，我们回顾，曼德拉总统已将沙佩维尔事件转化为保护所有人尊严和权利的坚定决心。

The lessons of South Africa’s staunch defence of equality “out of the many Sharpevilles” in the country’s history can be applied anywhere in the world, not only in response to organized, institutional forms of racism but wherever this pernicious problem occurs, including in daily interpersonal relations.

在南非历史上“许许多多的沙佩维尔事件”中，南非坚定地捍卫平等，其经验教训适用于世界任何地区，不仅可用来反对形形色色有组织和体制化的种族主义，而且可适用于任何存在这个毒瘤的地方，也适用于日常人际关系。

I call on all people, especially political, civic and religious leaders, to strongly condemn messages and ideas based on racism, racial superiority or hatred as well as those that incite racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. On this Day, let us acknowledge that racial discrimination remains a dangerous threat and resolve to tackle it through dialogue inspired by the proven ability of individuals to respect, protect and defend our rich diversity as one human family.

我呼吁所有人，特别是政治、民间社会和宗教领袖，强烈谴责基于种族主义、种族优越感或仇恨的言论和思想，强烈谴责煽动种族主义、种族歧视、仇外心理和相关不容忍行为的言论和思想。值此国际日，让我们承认，种族歧视仍然是一项重大威胁，让我们下定决心，通过对话解决这个问题，许许多多的人已经证明，他们有能力进行这种对话，以促进尊重、保护和捍卫同一个人类大家庭的丰富多元性。