The United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday formally designated the transatlantic African slave trade as “the gravest crime against humanity,” despite opposition from the United States and several European countries. The resolution was adopted with 123 votes in favor, three against, and 52 abstentions, marking a historic step toward acknowledgment and potential reparations.
Ghanaian President John Mahama, a vocal advocate for slavery reparations, attended the session at UN headquarters in New York. “Today, we come together in solemn solidarity to affirm truth and pursue a route to healing and reparative justice. The adoption of this resolution serves as a safeguard against forgetting,” Mahama stated.
Although nonbinding, the resolution calls on nations involved in the slave trade to engage in restorative justice and highlights the ongoing legacy of slavery through racial discrimination and neo colonialism. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres emphasized the lasting impact, saying, “The transatlantic slave trade was a crime against humanity that struck at the core of personhood, broke up families, and devastated communities.”
The United States, Israel, and Argentina opposed the measure. US Ambassador Dan Negrea criticized the text as “highly problematic” and rejected any legal right to reparations for historical wrongs. Britain and EU countries abstained, citing concerns about ranking historical trages. Ghanaian Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa countered these criticisms, urging nations that participated in the slave trade to formally apologize and return looted artifacts. He also called for structural reforms and possible compensation for affected communities.
Supporters hailed the resolution as a milestone for restorative justice and reconciliation, reinforcing global recognition of the enduring impact of slavery and the need to address historical injustices.
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