news 25 March 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
UN Approves Ghana's Resolution Labeling Transatlantic Slavery as Worst Crime Against Humanity Despite US and EU Pushback
The UN General Assembly has adopted a Ghana-proposed resolution recognizing transatlantic slavery as the gravest crime against humanity and urging reparations, with 123 votes in favor, US opposition, and EU abstentions. Experts hail it as a major milestone in addressing historical injustices. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/un-adopts-ghana-s-slavery-resolution-defying-resistance-from-us-europe-5403460
The United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution led by Ghana that declares transatlantic slavery the ‘gravest crime against humanity’ and pushes for reparations, overcoming objections from the US and Europe.
The vote saw 123 countries in support, three against—including the US and Israel—and 52 abstentions, among them the EU and UK. Though not legally binding, the measure holds significant political influence.
Ghana argued that the enslavement of at least 12.5 million Africans from the 15th to 19th centuries continues to fuel modern racial inequalities. The text calls for apologies, artifact returns, financial compensation, and commitments to prevent recurrence.
Ghana’s Foreign Minister Samuel Ablakwa emphasized the need for accountability, stating that justice does not fade with time. Howard University law professor Justin Hansford described it as the UN’s boldest step yet on slavery and reparations, marking the first such floor vote.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged stronger global action on historical wrongs. The Netherlands stands alone among European nations with a formal slavery apology.
Opposition stemmed from fears of ranking crimes against humanity or retroactively applying laws. The US criticized it as leveraging history for resource redistribution, while the EU cited legal concerns but acknowledged the atrocity’s scale.
This follows the African Union’s push for a unified reparations stance and aligns with calls from African and Caribbean states for a UN tribunal.
Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)