The United Nations General Assembly has formally recognised the trafficking of enslaved Africans as 'the gravest crime against humanity' in a resolution that also calls for reparations to address historical injustices. The measure, passed on Wednesday, urges the 'prompt and unhindered restitution' of cultural artefacts, including artworks and monuments, to their countries of origin without charge.
The resolution received 123 votes in favour, three against, and 52 abstentions from the 193-member body. Argentina, Israel, and the United States opposed the resolution, while the United Kingdom and several European Union member states chose to abstain. The UK's acting UN Ambassador James Kariuki said Western nations are committed to tackling the root causes of racial discrimination and modern slavery.
Ghana's President John Dramani Mahama, a key architect of the resolution, told the assembly: 'Let it be recorded that when history beckoned, we did what was right for the memory of the millions who suffered the indignity of slavery.' The resolution condemns the transatlantic slave trade as 'the most inhumane and enduring injustice against humanity' and calls for talks on reparatory justice, including formal apologies and compensation.
