United Nations [UN] Declares Transatlantic Slave Trade ‘Gravest Crime Against Humanity’

The United Nations General Assembly has voted to recognize the transatlantic slave trade as the gravest crime against humanity, with 123 member states voting in favor. Ghana introduced the resolution, which also called for the establishment of a reparations fund and the return of cultural artifacts stolen during the colonial era.

Only three countries, Argentina, Israel, and the United States, voted against the resolution, while 52 nations, primarily European, abstained. Ghanaian Foreign Minister Samuel Ablakwa emphasized that African leaders are seeking justice for victims, not personal compensation.

Key Points:

The resolution acknowledges the scale, duration, and enduring consequences of the slave trade, including persistent anti-Black racism and inequality.
Ghana called for a reparations fund to support educational initiatives, skills training, and the return of looted cultural artifacts.
Britain, Portugal, and Spain—nations heavily involved in the slave trade—were among the 52 countries that abstained.
The US opposed the resolution, stating it does not recognize a legal right to reparations for historical wrongs.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged action to eradicate systemic racism and ensure reparatory justice.

The landmark resolution represents a historic step in acknowledging the transatlantic slave trade’s profound legacy, though the abstentions and opposition highlight the deep divisions that remain over accountability and reparations.

Sources: Premium Times, AFP.

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