UN Declares Transatlantic Slave Trade as Gravest Crime Against Humanity, Calls for Reparations

The United Nations has officially recognized the transatlantic slave trade as the gravest crime against humanity and has called for reparations to address historical injustices. The resolution, passed on Wednesday, received support from 123 member states, with Argentina, Israel, and the United States voting against, and 52 abstentions, including the United Kingdom and European Union members.

Ghana's President, John Dramani Mahama, who proposed the resolution, stated, "Let it be recorded that when history beckoned, we did what was right for the memory of millions who suffered the indignity of slavery." The African Union and the Caribbean Community backed the resolution, emphasizing the need for reparatory justice.

James Kariuki, the UK's chargé d'affaires to the UN, expressed disagreement with the resolution's fundamental propositions, asserting that no single set of atrocities should be regarded as more or less significant than another.

In parallel, British MP Bell Ribeiro-Addy presented a petition to the House of Commons, urging a state apology for the UK's role in slavery and colonialism. The petition highlighted that many global challenges are rooted in the legacies of enslavement and empire.

Historians note that over four centuries, more than 15 million Africans were enslaved and trafficked across the Atlantic by seven European nations, including the UK. The wealth generated from this enslavement significantly contributed to mass industrialization in the West.

The UN's recognition aims to provide political acknowledgment at the highest level for one of history's darkest eras. Experts involved in drafting the resolution emphasize that it seeks to properly situate that particular chapter in history and address its lasting impact.

While the resolution is not legally binding, it is expected to pave the way for further progress in the pursuit of reparatory justice. The African Union has been working to codify chattel slavery as a crime requiring not just apologies but reparatory measures.

President Mahama also expressed concern over the erasure of Black history in the US through increasing censorship of teaching about slavery, segregation, and racism in schools. He warned that such policies are becoming a template for other governments and institutions, potentially normalizing the erasure of history.