The United Nations General Assembly has adopted a landmark resolution designating the transatlantic slave trade as “the gravest crime against humanity” and urging member states to consider formal apologies and reparations
The United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution on Wednesday officially recognizing the enslavement of Africans during the transatlantic slave trade as “the gravest crime against humanity.” Proposed by Ghana to advance global calls for justice and restorative actions, the resolution was passed with 123 votes in favor, as reported by the BBC. The measure calls on member nations to consider issuing formal apologies and contributing to a reparations fund to address the historical and ongoing impacts of the trade, though it does not outline a specific monetary amount.
The resolution highlighted deep geopolitical divisions, facing opposition and hesitation from several Western and allied nations. Three countries—the United States, Israel, and Argentina—voted against the measure, while 52 others, including the United Kingdom and various European Union member states, chose to abstain. Despite the lack of unanimity, the vote marks a significant symbolic victory for the global reparatory justice movement, which seeks to address the systemic inequalities rooted in historical enslavement.
Speaking ahead of the historic vote, Ghanaian President John Mahama emphasized that the resolution was a necessary moral step to honor victims and confront systemic racism. He stated, “Let it be recorded that when history beckoned, we did what was right for the memory of the millions who suffered the indignity of the slave trade and those who continue to suffer racial discrimination.”
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