The United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday adopted a resolution describing the transatlantic slave trade as "the most serious crime against humanity," while calling for concrete reparations to redress these historical wrongs.
The text also demands "the prompt and unhindered restitution" of cultural property – works of art, monuments, archives and museum objects – to their countries of origin, without cost or condition .
A symbolic but significant vote: With 123 votes in favor, 3 against (United States, Israel, Argentina), and 52 abstentions, this resolution, while non-binding, marks a major step forward in the international recognition of crimes related to slavery. It reflects a collective will to no longer let these injustices go unpunished.
For Ghana's Foreign Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, this vote sends a clear signal: "The international community will no longer tolerate impunity. Thanks to multilateralism, justice will ultimately prevail, however long it takes."
Although symbolic, this resolution could accelerate demands for the restitution of cultural property and strengthen calls for formal apologies from former colonial powers. It also underscores the urgent need to combat the contemporary legacies of slavery, such as structural racism and persistent inequalities.
