The United Nations recently adopted a resolution declaring the transatlantic slave trade the gravest crime against humanity, emphasising that claims for reparations represent a concrete step towards remedy.
The resolution spearheaded by Ghana received 123 votes in favour while three countries – Argentina, Israel and the United States – voted against, and 52 abstained.
The resolution spearheaded by Ghana received 123 votes in favour while three countries – Argentina, Israel and the United States – voted against, and 52 abstained.
Members of the media may directly contact the following experts on this topic:
Eric Allina (English only)
Director of the Department of History at the Faculty of Arts.
Professor Allina's research expertise includes African history, the history of slavery, and Cold War era connections between African and socialist bloc states.
"In considering crimes against humanity, that such crimes may have been legal at the time they were committed cannot be a defense; we have learned this from our understanding of much more recent crimes.
Figuring out what reparations might look like is a big challenge, given the enormity of the wrongs committed in the centuries that slavery existed, but that is not a reason to avoid trying to address those wrongs."