United Nations Designates African Enslavement as 'Gravest Crime Against Humanity'

The United Nations General Assembly has voted to recognise the enslavement of Africans during the transatlantic slave trade as 'the gravest crime against humanity', a move advocates hope will pave the way for healing and justice.

The resolution - proposed by Ghana - called for this designation, while also urging UN member states to consider apologising for the slave trade and contributing to a reparations fund. It does not mention a specific amount of money.

The proposal was adopted with 123 votes in favour and three against - the United States, Israel and Argentina. Fifty-two countries abstained, including the United Kingdom and European Union member states.

Countries like the UK have long rejected calls to pay reparations, saying today's institutions cannot be held responsible for past wrongs. Unlike UN Security Council resolutions, those from the General Assembly are not legally binding, though they carry the weight of global opinion.

Ghana's President John Mahama, addressing the assembly ahead of the vote, 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.

The resolution also highlights the ongoing consequences of slavery, including racial inequalities and underdevelopment affecting Africans and people of African descent worldwide. Ghana's foreign minister stressed the importance of justice and educational support for the victims and their descendants.

Ghana has been a major advocate for reparations, stating that the historical reality of slavery must be recognized. Support for the resolution also reflects a growing global movement towards reparatory justice, addressing past injustices faced by African peoples.

The United States and other opposing nations have raised concerns regarding the legal implications of reparations, rejecting the notion that historical injustices can be parsed into categories of significance when discussing contemporary accountability.

The resolution also calls for the return of cultural artefacts stolen during the colonial era to their countries of origin, stating, We want a return of all those looted artefacts, which represent our heritage, our culture and our spiritual significance. The debate surrounding this resolution continues as nations grapple with their historical actions and the implications for modern society.