The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has approved a landmark resolution that formally declares slavery and the transatlantic slave trade as among the greatest injustices against humanity.
The resolution, led by Ghana, was described by President John Mahama as necessary because the consequences of slavery, including racial disparities, still persist.
The transatlantic slave trade was the largest forced movement of people in history.
Historians estimate that between 10 and 15 million Africans roughly the population of countries such as Sierra Leone, Israel, and Sweden were forcibly transported across the Atlantic between 1500 and 1900.
However, experts say this figure significantly understates the actual number of Africans who were enslaved, killed, or displaced as a result of the trade.
In the resolution passed on Wednesday, Ghana urged UN member states to consider apologising for the transatlantic slave trade and contributing to an unspecified reparations fund.
The proposal was adopted with 123 votes in favour and three against the United States, Israel, and Argentina.
Earlier, Mahama criticised the United States for “slowly normalising” the erasure of Black history.
The United Kingdom and European Union member states were among 52 countries that abstained from voting.
The resolution was strongly backed by the African Union and the Caribbean Community.
Its adoption marks a diplomatic victory for Ghana and the African Union, which have been pushing for the recognition of slavery and colonialism as crimes against humanity, while advocating for restorative justice, artefact repatriation, and systemic financial reforms to address the enduring impact of these injustices.
