By Boakye Stephen, Kumasi, Ghana | Reporting for Ghanaian News, Canada
Amnesty International has praised the UN General Assembly’s adoption of the resolution recognizing chattel enslavement of Africans as a crime against humanity. The resolution, tabled by Ghana, passed with 123 in favor, 3 against, and 53 abstentions.
In a statement, Amnesty International emphasized the ongoing impact of slavery and colonialism, noting that communities worldwide continue to suffer systemic inequality and racial discrimination as a result of these historical injustices.
“Today’s resolution is a momentous step forward for legal recognition and reparations for those who have suffered the enduring harms of chattel enslavement around the world,” the organization stated.
The resolution calls on former slave-trading nations to enter dialogue with African states and the African Union to implement reparative measures, including financial compensation, development assistance, and the return of looted cultural artifacts.
Commentary:
While symbolic, the resolution lays a foundation for moral and material redress. African states must now demonstrate accountability by acknowledging the complexities, including internal complicity in the slave trade, to negotiate reparations with credibility.
