Brazil Endorses Ghana's UN Resolution Recognizing Transatlantic Slave Trade as Gravest Crime Against Humanity

Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has expressed support for Ghana's initiative at the United Nations to formally recognize the transatlantic slave trade and slavery as the gravest crime against humanity. Speaking at the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC)–Africa Summit in Bogotá, Colombia, President Lula stated,

"Brazil supports the African Group at the United Nations in recognising human trafficking and the slave trade as among the gravest atrocities in human history."

Ghana plans to present the resolution at the UN General Assembly on March 25, 2026, coinciding with the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade. The resolution seeks formal recognition of the historical injustices of slavery and calls for the return of stolen artifacts regarded as symbols of African kingdoms, culture, and heritage. It also aims to advocate for structural reforms within the global system to ensure equal opportunities for people of African descent and African countries.

President Lula's endorsement is expected to strengthen momentum for the resolution, particularly given Brazil's historical role as a major destination during the transatlantic slave trade. Historians estimate that more than 12 million Africans were forcibly taken from the continent, with Brazil emerging as one of the principal destinations where enslaved people were used on plantations and in other forms of labor across the Americas and Europe. Today, Brazil is home to one of the largest populations of people of African descent outside the continent.

Ghana's diplomatic push has already secured backing from the African Union and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), alongside expressions of support from several Asian countries. In an interview with Russian Television, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, emphasized that the resolution is grounded in historical accountability rather than financial claims.

"The call for reparatory justice is about a shared recognition of the profound injustices inflicted on Africans and their descendants. It is not merely a pursuit of monetary compensation," he said.

If adopted, the resolution is expected to strengthen international legal and moral frameworks addressing the long-term socio-economic consequences of slavery, while intensifying global debate over reparations. It is also likely to increase pressure on former colonial powers and institutions linked to the slave trade to acknowledge responsibility and consider restitution measures. For Ghana, the initiative aligns with its broader foreign policy agenda of historical redress, diaspora engagement, and positioning the country as a leading voice on issues of global justice.