Amnesty International applauds UN move declaring Transatlantic slavery a crime against humanity

Amnesty International has praised the United Nations General Assembly for adopting a resolution that recognizes the chattel enslavement of Africans as a crime against humanity, calling it a historic step toward legal acknowledgment and reparative justice.

In a statement released after the vote, the rights group commended the resolution introduced by Ghana on behalf of Africa and people of African descent. The motion was approved by 123 member states, with three opposing and 53 abstaining.

Amnesty reiterated its support, stating that the decision marks an important recognition of the injustices suffered by Africans under chattel slavery.

The organization stressed that the effects of slavery and colonialism persist globally, continuing to shape modern-day racism and inequality long after the Transatlantic Slave Trade officially ended. It noted that both states and private entities benefited from these historical injustices, the consequences of which are still felt today.

Amnesty described the resolution as a significant milestone in the long-standing push for reparations, saying it lays a solid basis for accountability and redress for affected communities.

The resolution, led by Ghana’s Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, declares slavery and the transatlantic slave trade among the gravest crimes against humanity. It urges former slave-trading nations to open discussions with African countries and the African Union on addressing past injustices through measures such as compensation, debt relief, development support, and the restitution of stolen cultural heritage.

Amnesty’s backing reinforces growing global support for reparatory justice as a key step in tackling both historical and present-day racial inequalities. The statement also highlights that accountability could extend beyond governments to include corporations and institutions that amassed wealth through slavery.

Although the resolution is not legally binding, its overwhelming support and endorsement by major human rights groups are likely to increase pressure on former colonial and slave-trading nations to take meaningful action on reparations.