UN General Assembly Declares Transatlantic Slave Trade 'Gravest Crime Against Humanity'
The United Nations General Assembly adopted a Ghana-led resolution formally designating the transatlantic African slave trade as 'the gravest crime against humanity,' calling for reparations and an apology. The landmark resolution passed despite opposition from the United States, Israel, and Argentina, with the UK and EU member states abstaining. Advocates described the vote as a historic step toward reparatory justice.
Key Facts
- 1The UN General Assembly adopted the resolution declaring the transatlantic slave trade 'the gravest crime against humanity'
- 2The resolution calls for an apology and contributions to a reparations fund, without specifying an amount
- 3The resolution was led by Ghana and backed by African nations, with the US, Israel, and Argentina voting against it
- 4The United Kingdom and EU member states abstained from the vote
- 5Advocates described the resolution as a concrete step toward remedying historical wrongs and advancing reparatory justice
Coverage
Reported by French, British, Qatari, US, and German outlets, reflecting the resolution's broad international political significance across regions with direct historical connections to the slave trade.
Sources (8)
UN recognizes slave trade as gravest crime against humanity
DW · 9h ago
UN names African slave trade 'gravest crime against humanity'
France24 · 13h ago
UN adopts slavery resolution despite resistance
Al Jazeera · 14h ago
UN votes to recognise enslavement of Africans as 'gravest crime against humanity'
BBC News · 15h ago
UN votes to describe slave trade as ‘gravest crime against humanity’
The Guardian · 16h ago
Britain abstains from key UN vote to recognise slavery as ‘gravest crime against humanity’
The Independent · 16h ago
UN designates slave trade as ‘gravest crime against humanity’ despite US opposition
France24 · 16h ago
UN calls for reparations to remedy the 'historical wrongs' of trafficking enslaved Africans
AP News · 1d ago