Jonathan Frederic De Santos

This image depicts the collective cooperation of African and European merchants, recalling the tragic history of the transatlantic slave trade. Joseph Swain. CC BY-SA 4.0

Article (news)

Deutsche Welle

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1774510655213Captives-being-brought-on-board-a-slave-ship-on-the-west-coast-of-africa--slave-coast--c1880-802464822-59fb46fc0d327a003632d7d3.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="This image depicts the collective cooperation of African and European merchants, recalling the tragic history of the transatlantic slave trade. Joseph Swain.  CC BY-SA 4.0"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">This image depicts the collective cooperation of African and European merchants, recalling the tragic history of the transatlantic slave trade. <em>Joseph Swain. </em><a href="http://Joseph Swain - Own work  CC BY-SA 4.0"><em>CC BY-SA 4.0</em></a></span></span></span></div><p>At least 12.5 million Africans were kidnapped and trafficked to the Americas during the transatlantic slave tradeImage: akg-images/picture-alliance</p><p>The UN General Assembly has adopted a resolution recognizing the trafficking of enslaved Africans as the &quot;gravest crime against humanity.&quot;</p><p>123 countries voted in favor of the resolution, which was championed by Ghana and backed by the African Union and Caribbean nations.</p><p>The United States, Israel and Argentina were the only countries to vote against Wednesday&#x27;s non-binding resolution.</p><p>The United Kingdom and all 27 members of the European Union were among the 52 countries which abstained.</p><p>Ghana said the resolution was needed because the consequences of slavery still persist today, ⁠including ⁠racial disparities.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/24/chinese-national-rescued-from-torture-scam-hub-uncovered-in-pasay-condo-1734">Chinese national rescued from torture, scam hub uncovered in Pasay condo</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>What else did Ghana say about the resolution on slavery?</strong></div><p>After the vote, Ghana&#x27;s Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa posted a photo of the results, saying: &quot;We did it for Africa and all people of African descent.&quot;</p><p>Speaking on behalf of the African Union, Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama said before the vote: &quot;Today, we come together in solemn solidarity to affirm truth and pursue a route to healing and reparative justice.&quot;</p><p>&quot;The adoption of this resolution serves as a safeguard against forgetting.&quot;</p><p>The transatlantic slave trade between the 15th and 19th centuries involved the kidnapping, enslavement and transport of at least 12.5 million Africans to the Americas and the Caribbean.</p><p>Conditions on the journey were so horrific that only 10.7 million survived.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>What does the resolution say?</strong></div><p>The resolution is entitled &quot;Declaration of the Trafficking of Enslaved Africans and Racialized Chattel Enslavement of Africans as the Gravest Crime Against Humanity.&quot;</p><p>It &quot;unequivocally condemns the trafficking of enslaved Africans and racialized chattel enslavement of Africans, slavery and the transatlantic slave trade as the most inhumane and enduring injustice against humanity.&quot;</p><p>It also calls on UN member nations to engage in talks &quot;on reparatory justice, including a full and formal apology, measures of restitution, compensation, rehabilitation, satisfaction, guarantees of non-repetition and changes to laws, programs and services to address racism and systemic discrimination.&quot;</p><p>Before the vote, Ghana&#x27;s Foreign Minister Ablakwa said that some nations had refused to acknowledge their crimes.</p><p>&quot;The perpetrators of the transatlantic slave trade are known, the Europeans, the United States of America,&quot; he told the French AFP news agency. &quot;We expect all of them to formally apologize to Africa and to all people of African descent.&quot;</p><p>The Netherlands remains the only European country to have issued a formal apology for its role in ‌slavery.</p><p>The main European nations involved in slaving were Portugal, Spain, Britain, France, the Netherlands, Denmark and Sweden.</p><p>Ablakwa also suggested that institutions continue to address structural racism and that &quot;compensation&quot; could be offered to those affected.</p><p>One pathway toward restorative justice, Ablakwa said, is that &quot;all the looted artifacts are returned to the motherland.&quot;</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2026/3/16/over-30-filipinos-arrested-in-alleged-scam-hub-in-laguna-1359">Over 30 Filipinos arrested in alleged scam hub in San Pedro, Laguna<br/></a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>Why were some countries opposed to the resolution on slavery?</strong></div><p>Some UN members argued that today&#x27;s states and institutions should not be held responsible for historical wrongs.</p><p>They also voiced concerns that the resolution could imply a hierarchy among crimes against ⁠humanity, treating some as more serious than others.</p><p>Before the vote, the deputy US ambassador to the UN, Dan Negrea, said the US &quot;does not recognize a legal right to reparations for historical wrongs that were not illegal under international law at the time they occurred.&quot;</p><p>&quot;The United States also strongly objects to the resolution&#x27;s attempt to rank crimes against humanity in any type of hierarchy,&quot; he added.</p><p>The EU ⁠representative, Gabriella Michaelidou, said the bloc would have supported a resolution highlighting the &quot;scale of the atrocity&quot; but raised &quot;legal and factual&quot; concerns, including applying international law retroactively.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2026/2/20/israel-s-netanyahu-says-no-reconstruction-of-gaza-before-demilitarization-0948">Israel&#x27;s Netanyahu says no reconstruction of Gaza before demilitarization<br/></a></div><p>Speaking at the UN, Ghana&#x27;s Foreign Minister Ablakwa said, &quot;History does not disappear when ignored, truth does not weaken when delayed, crime does not rot ... and justice does not expire with time.&quot;</p><div><br/></div><div><em>Edited by: Rana Taha</em></div>

<p>The UN General Assembly has passed the resolution on transatlantic slavery despite opposition from the US and European countries.</p>

The UN General Assembly has passed the resolution on transatlantic slavery despite opposition from the US and European countries.

UN classes slave trade as 'gravest crime against humanity'

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UN classes slave trade as 'gravest crime against humanity'

Deutsche Welle

Published March 26, 2026 03:50 PM PHT

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United Nations

UN General Assembly

Slavery

United States

Europe

Africa

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