Amnesty International has welcomed the adoption of a landmark resolution by the United Nations General Assembly recognising chattel enslavement of Africans as a crime against humanity.
The resolution, tabled by Ghana on behalf of African countries and people of African descent, was adopted with 123 votes in favour, three against, and 52 abstentions. Israel, the United States, and Argentina voted against the motion.
In a statement, Amnesty International described the decision as a “momentous step” toward achieving legal recognition and advancing the case for reparations for Africans and people of African descent affected by centuries of slavery.
The organisation noted that despite the formal abolition of slavery, its long-lasting effects continue to manifest globally through systemic racism, inequality, and economic disparities, while states and private actors historically benefited from the exploitation.
Amnesty International expressed hope that the resolution would mark the beginning of a broader pathway toward justice, accountability, and reparatory measures for affected communities.
The adoption of the resolution comes at a time of renewed global conversations around historical injustices, reparations, and racial equity, particularly within international human rights and legal frameworks.
While the resolution is not legally binding, it is expected to influence future international law discussions and strengthen advocacy efforts aimed at addressing the enduring legacy of slavery and colonialism.
The resolution, tabled by Ghana’s Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, on behalf of African states and the diaspora formally declares slavery and the transatlantic slave trade as one of the greatest injustices against humanity.
By categorizing chattel enslavement as a crime against humanity, the resolution calls on former slave-trading nations to address historical injustices, including calls for reparations, formal apologies, return of looted cultural artifacts.
Although UN General Assembly resolutions are not legally binding, they carry significant diplomatic and normative weight, influencing international law, global policy discussions, and future reparations initiatives.
