UN General Assembly Adopts Landmark Resolution on Slavery Reparations

The United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution declaring the trafficking of enslaved Africans as "the gravest crime against humanity."

The United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday adopted a resolution advocating for reparations as a "concrete step towards remedying historical wrongs" and urging the "prompt and unhindered restitution" of cultural items to their countries of origin without charge. This landmark resolution aims to address the enduring legacy of the transatlantic slave trade.

Vote Breakdown

The resolution passed with a vote of 123 in favor, 3 against, and 52 abstentions among the 193 member states. Argentina, Israel, and the United States voted against the measure, while the United Kingdom and all 27 members of the European Union abstained.

Dissenting Voices: United States

The United States stated its opposition to past wrongdoing related to the transatlantic slave trade but clarified it does not recognize a legal right to reparations for historical wrongs that were not illegal under international law at the time they occurred. The U.S. also objected to any implied hierarchy among crimes against humanity.

Dissenting Voices: European Union

Speaking for the European Union, Cyprus' deputy U.N. ambassador expressed concerns regarding the resolution's use of "superlatives" and an "unbalanced interpretation of historical events." The EU also noted reservations about legal references deemed inaccurate or inconsistent with international law, including suggestions of retroactive application and claims for reparations.

Context and Significance

Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama, a key architect of the resolution, stated that its adoption serves as a safeguard against forgetting the millions who suffered from slavery. The vote coincided with the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade, honoring approximately 13 million enslaved African individuals.

Resolution's Core Declaration

The resolution "unequivocally condemns the trafficking of enslaved Africans and racialized chattel enslavement of Africans, slavery and the transatlantic slave trade as the most inhumane and enduring injustice against humanity."

It emphasizes the importance of addressing historical wrongs to promote justice, human rights, dignity, and healing.

Calls for Reparatory Justice and Reconciliation

Member nations are called upon to engage in talks concerning reparatory justice, which includes a full and formal apology, restitution, compensation, rehabilitation, guarantees of non-repetition, and changes to laws and services to address racism and systemic discrimination.

The resolution also encourages voluntary contributions for education on the transatlantic slave trade and collaboration between the African Union, the Caribbean Community, and the Organization of American States with U.N. bodies on reparatory justice and reconciliation.