Wikipedia对affirmative action的释义如下：

Affirmative action, also known as positive action or positive discrimination (British English), involves sets of policies and practices within a government or organization seeking to include particular groups that were historically discriminated against in areas in which such groups are underrepresented, mistreated or suffer from lack of public support—such as education and employment. Historically and internationally, support for affirmative action has sought to achieve goals such as bridging inequalities in employment and pay, increasing access to education, promoting diversity, and redressing wrongs, harms, or hindrances.

（参考译文：Affirmative action也称为积极行动或积极歧视（英式英语），涉及政府或组织内部的一系列政策和做法，旨在将历史上受到歧视的特定群体纳入其中，而这些群体在这些群体中代表性不足、受到虐待或遭受歧视 缺乏公共支持——例如教育和就业。 从历史和国际角度来看，对平权行动的支持都力求实现诸如弥合就业和薪酬不平等、增加受教育机会、促进多样性以及纠正错误、伤害或障碍等目标。）

在中文中，Affirmative action通常被翻译为“平权行动”或“积极歧视政策”。这是一种政策或一组措施，旨在纠正历史上对某些群体的歧视和不平等待遇，如种族、性别、宗教或国籍等。通过提供教育、就业和其他领域的机会，平权行动帮助这些群体获得更平等的社会地位和资源分配。

Affirmative action的一些具体使用场景可参考如下双语示例：

Governments must show political will to enforce the rule of law and bridge the gap between de jure equality and de facto discrimination, including by affirmative action.

各国政府必须表现出政治意愿，加强法制，弥合法律上的平等与实际上的歧视之间的鸿沟，包括采取平权行动。

The right of persons with disabilities to move about freely with the greatest possible independence requires the removal of obstacles, the generalization of accessibility in all its forms and the introduction of affirmative action measures.

使残疾人最大可能独立自由行动的权利要求消除障碍，在各方面普及无障碍设施及建立积极行动措施。