Message from Ms Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO, on the Occasion of African World Heritage Day

　　教科文组织总干事伊琳娜·博科娃女士在非洲世界遗产日的致辞

　　5 May 2016

　　2016年5月5日

　　This first African World Heritage Day is very special.

　　今天是首个非洲世界遗产日，意义非同寻常。

　　This is an opportunity to celebrate the wealth of Africa’s cultural and natural heritage, embodying outstanding universal values. This is a moment for the world to stand with Governments, local communities and societies to support one of the continent’s most precious resources. Africa’s cultural and natural heritage is a force for peace – it is also a driver of development and innovation.

　　这一天使我们有机会赞颂非洲丰富的文化和自然遗产，它们体现着突出的普遍价值观。在这个时刻，全世界与各国政府、地方社区和社会一道，对非洲大陆最为珍贵的一种资源提供支持。非洲的文化和自然遗产是和平的力量、发展和创新的动力。

　　This is the inspiration of this International Day, proclaimed by UNESCO Member States in November 2015, to increase global awareness of African heritage and to mobilise greater cooperation for its safeguarding. This must include every actor, starting with school children, with young women and men and with all partners, including the African World Heritage Fund, celebrating its 10th anniversary this year.

　　今天这个国际日的灵感便来源于此。教科文组织会员国于2015年11月宣布这个国际日，为的是提高全世界对非洲遗产的认识，加强合作保护非洲遗产。国际日恰逢非洲世界遗产基金十周年庆典，必须吸引从中小学生、青年到所有合作伙伴的各个行动方参与进来。

　　Over the last decade, we have made great progress to increase the number of African sites on the World Heritage List – improving conservation and risk management, expanding community involvement and increasing benefits to local communities. Yet, out of the 129 cultural and natural sites on the African continent inscribed on the World Heritage List, 17 are also on the List of World Heritage in Danger. The list of threats is long, from armed conflict, terrorism, poaching and global warming to uncontrolled urban expansion, and mineral and oil exploration, all of this unfolding amidst unprecedented economic and social transformations.

　　过去十年来，我们取得了巨大进步：增加了列入《世界遗产名录》的非洲遗产地数量，改进了保护工作和风险管理，扩大了社区参与，使地方社区更多受益。然而，在列入《世界遗产名录》的129处非洲大陆文化和自然遗产地 中，有17处也被列入《世界濒危遗产名录》。遗产遭受的威胁种类繁多：既有武装冲突、恐怖主义、偷猎行径和全球变暖，也有毫无节制的城市扩张、矿产石油开采，所有这些威胁都是在前所未有的经济和社会变革这一大背景下出现的。

　　Protecting and promoting Africa’s cultural and natural heritage resonates at the heart of UNESCO’s work to promote respect and mutual understanding, to safeguard sources of belonging and creativity. This is also important to take forward the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development – safeguarding heritage helps create jobs, promote gender equality, eradicate poverty. There is no need to choose between heritage and growth, between beautiful landscapes and decent livelihoods – with the right skills and stronger capacities, we can harness the potential of heritage to create millions of decent jobs, giving also a sense of dignity, inclusion and pride. By protecting natural resources, rivers and parks, we can unleash extraordinary renewable energy source for all. This is the right thing to do, and the smart choice to make. This is UNESCO’s message today.

　　教科文组织的任务是促进尊重与相互理解，保护归属感和创造力的源泉，而保护和促进非洲的文化和自然遗产与这一任务相辅相成。这对于推进“2030年可持续发展议程”同样十分重要：保护遗产有助于创造就业机会，促进性别平等，消除贫困。在遗产和发展之间，在美丽景色和体面生活之间，并不需要 作什么抉择——如果技能适宜、能力增强，便既可利用遗产的潜能，创造无数体面就业机会，又能使人享有尊严、包容、自豪感。保护自然资源、河流、公园，可以产生非同寻常的可再生能源，惠及全民。这是正确的事情，这是明智的选择。这是教科文组织今天发出的讯息。

　　This matters to Africa – it matters to women and men across the world, and especially to young people.

　　这对非洲事关重大，这对全世界男女老少事关重大，这尤其对青年人事关重大。

（编辑：何莹莹）