In a landmark moment at the United Nations, the General Assembly has officially declared the transatlantic slave trade the gravest crime against humanity in recorded history. The resolution, spearheaded by Ghana, received 123 votes in favour, with only three countries voting against, namely Argentina, Israel, and the United States, while 52 abstained. Applause erupted in the General Assembly Hall as the result was announced.
Ghana's President John Dramani Mahama addressed the Assembly on behalf of the 54-member African Group, the largest regional bloc at the UN, stating: "Today, we come together in solemn solidarity to affirm truth and pursue a route to healing and reparative justice."
The resolution formally described the trade as gravest by reason of the definitive break in world history it caused, as well as its scale, duration, systemic brutality, and enduring consequences.
The resolution affirmed the importance of addressing historical wrongs affecting Africans and people of the diaspora in a manner that promotes justice, human rights, dignity, and healing, while emphasising that claims for reparations represent a concrete step towards remedy.
The text also called for respect of African countries' sovereignty over their natural resources and equal participation in the global financial system.
The United States strongly opposed the resolution. The U.S. representative stated that Washington does not recognise a legal right to reparations for historical wrongs that were not illegal under international law at the time they occurred, calling the resolution "highly problematic in countless respects."
UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for confronting slavery's lasting legacies, urging countries to eradicate systemic racism, ensure reparatory justice, and accelerate inclusive development with equal access to education, health, employment, and housing, warning that far bolder actions by many more states are still needed. Barbados Poet Laureate Esther Philips closed the session with a powerful reminder: there can be no peace without reparatory justice.
