The United Nations General Assembly on March 25, 2026, adopted a resolution declaring the transatlantic trafficking of enslaved Africans and racialized chattel enslavement as the 'gravest crime against humanity.' The resolution, introduced by Ghana on behalf of the African Group and CARICOM, passed with 123 votes in favor, 3 against (Argentina, Israel, and the United States), and 52 abstentions, including the United Kingdom and the European Union.
The resolution emphasizes the enduring consequences of slavery, including systemic racism, inequality, and underdevelopment. It calls for reparatory justice and the restitution of cultural artifacts to their countries of origin without charge. Ghana's President John Dramani Mahama described the resolution as a 'safeguard against forgetting' and a step toward healing and reparative justice.
The United States opposed the resolution, arguing that it improperly creates a hierarchy of crimes against humanity and applies present-day legal standards retroactively. The U.S. also stated it does not recognize a legal right to reparations for historical wrongs that were not illegal under international law at the time. The UK and EU abstained, acknowledging the horror of slavery but emphasizing the need to address its enduring effects without endorsing the resolution.
Supporters of the resolution argue it moves the global conversation from remembrance to repair, while critics contend it could set a precedent for retroactive legal claims. The resolution is nonbinding but reflects a significant shift in international discourse on historical justice.