Ghana-Backed UN Resolution on Slavery Receives Mixed Reactions

The passage of a UN resolution condemning the transatlantic slave trade and the enslavement of Africans as the “most serious crimes against humanity” has stirred a complex mix of reactions worldwide. Proposed by Ghana, the resolution notably refrains from explicitly calling for reparations but does “encourage member states to support initiatives aimed at reparatory justice.”

Celebrated by many throughout Africa and its diaspora, the resolution has also attracted skepticism, particularly from the United States. Critics question its actual effectiveness in driving meaningful change. “I don’t believe these reparations will make a real difference in the lives of ordinary Africans,” reflected a Ghanaian farmer.

Adding to the discourse, France’s choice to abstain from the vote has elicited strong backlash from elected officials representing its overseas territories, especially in the Caribbean. There, the enduring impacts of slavery remain a poignant and sensitive topic.