UN General Assembly Declares Transatlantic Slave Trade as Gravest Crime Against Humanity
The UN General Assembly has passed a resolution recognizing the transatlantic slave trade as the gravest crime against humanity and calling for reparations.
The United Nations General Assembly has passed a resolution declaring the transatlantic slave trade as "the gravest crime against humanity" and calling for reparations to address its enduring consequences. The resolution, introduced by Ghana and supported by the African Union and the Caribbean Community, urges member states to consider formal apologies and contributions to a reparations fund, though it does not specify an amount.
The vote concluded with 123 nations in favor, three against—Argentina, Israel, and the United States—and 52 abstentions, including the United Kingdom and several European Union member states.
Ghana's Foreign Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, emphasized that the call for reparations is aimed at justice for victims, focusing on support for educational and skills training initiatives.
The resolution also advocates for the return of cultural artifacts taken during the colonial era to their countries of origin. Ghana's President, John Dramani Mahama, described the resolution as "historic" and a safeguard against forgetting.
The transatlantic slave trade, spanning from the 16th to the 19th century, resulted in the forced migration of approximately 12 to 15 million Africans to the Americas, with over two million perishing during the journey.