The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) has asserted that nations are legally required to contemplate reparations for the injustices inflicted by the transatlantic slave trade. This guidance was released following a significant resolution passed by the UN General Assembly earlier this year, which labeled the transatlantic slave trade as one of humanity’s gravest crimes.
Introduced by Ghana, the resolution urged UN member states to contemplate apologies for their roles in the slave trade and to establish a reparations fund. Ghana’s Foreign Minister, Samuel Ablakwa, highlighted that this fund aims to address the historical damages caused by slavery, emphasizing the call for justice rather than direct monetary compensation for African leaders. The proposed reparations could support various initiatives, including educational and training programs.
The resolution garnered robust backing, with 123 member states voting in favor. However, notable nations such as the US, Argentina, and Israel opposed it, while 52 countries—including Britain, Portugal, and Spain—abstained from the vote.
The UN committee described the expectation for states to fulfill reparations as a significant shift in perspective. It moves away from discussions around historical accountability, which have often been used to evade reparations claims. The committee underscored that states hold a current responsibility to rectify the ongoing impacts of historical injustices, regardless of the legal context of the past acts.
