UN Declares Historical Enslavement a Crime Against Humanity
Amnesty International has hailed a landmark United Nations General Assembly resolution that officially classifies the historical trafficking of enslaved Africans and racialized enslavement as a “crime against humanity.”
The resolution, approved on Wednesday, marks a significant shift in the international legal landscape. In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), Amnesty International described the move as a “transcendental step toward legal recognition and reparations for those who have suffered the persistent harms of slavery worldwide.”
A ‘Definitive Rupture’ in History
The text of the resolution identifies the transatlantic slave trade as the most serious of crimes due to its global magnitude, systemic brutality, and extreme duration. It highlights that the trade represented a “definitive rupture” in world history, creating lasting consequences that continue to impact lives today through modern systems of labor, property, and capital.
The human rights organization expressed hope that this declaration will “pave the way for justice for Africans and people of African descent” at a time when the foundations of international law are increasingly under pressure.
Global Divide in the Vote
Movement toward the resolution was spearheaded by Ghana and co-sponsored by dozens of nations, including several Portuguese-speaking African countries such as Angola, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, and São Tomé and Príncipe. Before the vote, African Union Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf called for a “global agenda of restorative justice” to formally compensate for the centuries of damage caused by the trade.
The resolution passed with 123 votes in favor. However, the vote also revealed deep geopolitical divisions:
- Against: The United States, Israel, and Argentina voted against the measure.
- Abstentions: 52 countries abstained, including major former colonial powers such as Portugal, the United Kingdom, Spain, France, Germany, and the Netherlands.
The Persistence of Modern Slavery
While the resolution focuses on the historical transatlantic trade that ended in the 19th century, advocates emphasize that the fight against enslavement is far from over. Modern slavery continues to plague the globe through forced labor, human trafficking, child exploitation, and state-imposed slavery, necessitating a continued focus on both historical justice and current human rights protections.
Image: Pexels – Sora Shimazaki
