The United Nations labels the transatlantic slave trade as the 'most heinous violation of human rights in history

The United Nations General Assembly voted to adopt a resolution on Wednesday, formally acknowledging the transatlantic slave trade as "the gravest crime against humanity" and recognising the need for reparations, with Ghana as the proposing country.

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This resolution, which garnered 123 votes in favour, aims to push for justice and reparations, with the goal of addressing the lingering effects of the slave trade.

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Three nations, namely the United States, Israel, and Argentina, cast votes against the resolution, while fifty-two countries, including the United Kingdom and European Union member states, opted to abstain.

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The adopted resolution urges UN member states to consider issuing formal apologies for their roles in the slave trade and to contribute to a reparations fund, although no specific monetary amount was specified.

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Ghana's President, John Mahama, spoke prior to the vote, emphasizing the importance of the decision in honouring the victims of the slave trade and confronting its lasting legacy, stating that it is necessary to "do what was right for the memory of the millions who suffered".

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According to President Mahama, the adoption of this resolution serves as a means of safeguarding against the forgetting of historical injustices and addressing the persistent scars of slavery.

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Ghana's Foreign Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, clarified that the resolution's primary objective is to secure justice rather than financial gain, with the aim of supporting causes that benefit the victims of the slave trade.

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Foreign Minister Ablakwa explained that African leaders are seeking compensation, not for personal gain, but to support educational and endowment funds, as well as skills training initiatives, for the benefit of the victims and their communities.

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The campaign for reparations has gained significant momentum in recent years, with the African Union adopting "reparatory justice" as its theme for 2025, and Commonwealth leaders also calling for dialogue on the issue.

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UN data indicates that over 15 million men, women, and children fell victim to the transatlantic slave trade, with research by the UK's Royal Museums Greenwich revealing that 450,000 of the 3.4 million Africans transported on British ships died during the Atlantic crossing.

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The resolution, which was backed by the African Union and the Caribbean Community, acknowledges that the consequences of slavery persist in the form of racial inequalities and underdevelopment affecting people of African descent worldwide.

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Several countries, however, raised objections during the debate, with the United Kingdom acknowledging the harm caused by the slave trade but arguing that the resolution poses challenges in terms of wording and international law.

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UK UN ambassador James Kariuki stated that "no single set of atrocities should be regarded as more or less significant than another", highlighting the UK's concerns with the resolution's wording.

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The United States also expressed objections, stating that it does not recognise a legal right to reparations for historical wrongs that were not illegal under international law at the time they occurred.

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US ambassador Dan Negrea criticised the "cynical usage of historical wrongs" to seek modern compensation, reflecting the US's stance on the issue of reparations.

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The resolution further called for the return of cultural artefacts taken during the colonial era, with Foreign Minister Ablakwa emphasizing the importance of returning "looted artefacts, which represent our heritage, our culture and our spiritual significance".

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Despite its adoption, it is worth noting that UN General Assembly resolutions are not legally binding, although they carry significant moral and political weight.