Secretary-General’s Message on International Volunteer Day

秘书长国际志愿人员日致辞

5 December 2013

2013年12月4日

On International Volunteer Day (IVD) we recognize the contribution of volunteers to peace and development worldwide. Today, we are highlighting the millions of young volunteers around the world who are acting globally for social change.

我们在国际志愿人员日认可志愿人员对世界和平与发展的贡献。今天，我们尤其要表彰世界各地数百万青年志愿者，他们在全球范围，为社会变革采取行动。

There are more than 1.2 billion youth in the world today, with incredible potential to tackle challenges and act as agents of change. When young people volunteer, the opportunity provides them with valuable life and job skills; it strengthens their capacity to lead and become engaged in their communities and global society.

当今世界有超过12亿青年人，他们在应对挑战和扮演变革促进者方面有着惊人的潜力。当青年人提供志愿服务时，他们有机会获得宝贵的生活和就业技能，他们在各自社区乃至全球社会的表率和参与能力也将得到加强。

I am especially grateful to the nearly 1,000 young UN Volunteers who are supporting the work of the United Nations for peace, sustainable development and human rights.  UN Volunteers work alongside UN staff to improve the lives of some of the most vulnerable populations in the world.  They will continue to play a key role in accelerating our work for the Millennium Development Goals, combating climate change and shaping and implementing the post-2015 development agenda.

我特别感谢将近1 000名青年联合国志愿人员，他们为联合国的和平、可持续发展和人权工作提供支持。联合国志愿人员与联合国工作人员一道，致力于改善世界上一些最弱势民众的生活。在加速实现千年发展目标、抵抗气候变化、以及拟订和实施2015年后发展议程方面，他们将继续发挥重要作用。

Volunteerism is a two-way street.  Even as volunteers help generate positive change for others, their own lives are often transformed by the act of volunteering itself.   On this International Volunteer Day, let us renew our commitment to offering young people diverse and meaningful volunteer opportunities to become active and confident contributors to global change.

志愿服务是一条双向路。当志愿人员帮助其他人实现积极变革时，他们自己的生活也常常因为志愿服务本身而发生转变。值此国际志愿人员日之际，让我们再次承诺，向青年人提供各种有意义的志愿服务机会，使他们能够积极和充满自信地为全球变革作贡献。