UN Recognizes Transatlantic Slave Trade as Grave Crime, Ghana Demands Reparations
The United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution recognizing the transatlantic slave trade as the gravest crime against humanity, with 123 member states voting in favor. Ghana, which introduced the resolution, is demanding a reparations fund to repair historical damage and seeking apologies from UN members involved in the trade. Foreign Minister Samuel Ablakwa stated the fund would support educational and skills training initiatives, not personal wealth. The resolution received overwhelming support but faced opposition from Argentina, Israel, and the US, with 52 countries including Britain, Portugal, and Spain abstaining. Nigeria and other African nations backed the resolution, which emphasizes the enduring impacts of slavery including racial inequalities and underdevelopment. The resolution also calls for returning looted cultural artifacts to their countries of origin. UN officials stressed the need to confront slavery's legacies and ensure reparative justice for affected communities.