UN Votes to Recognise Slavery as a Crime Against Humanity, Calls for Reparations
In March 2026, the United Nations General Assembly passed a historic resolution formally recognising the trafficking of enslaved Africans as the gravest crime against humanity. Coming on the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade, this vote marked a watershed moment in how slavery is addressed under international law and in contemporary political debate.
Introduced by Ghana on behalf of the African Union, the resolution passed with 123 countries voting in favour, 3 voting against, and 52 abstentions. Three countries—the United States, Israel, and Argentina—voted against the resolution, while Britain and all EU member states abstained. Setting out the United States’ opposition to the motion, the US Ambassador to the UN also asserted, bizarrely, that President Trump had done "more for black Americans than any other president". While non‑binding, this vote still carries significant moral, political, and legal weight.
Slavery Recognised as a Crime Against Humanity
The resolution recognises:
“[T]he trafficking of enslaved Africans and racialized chattel enslavement of Africans as the gravest crime against humanity by reason of the definitive break in world history, scale, duration, systemic nature, brutality and enduring consequences that continue to structure the lives of all people through racialized regimes of labour, property and capital.”
While non‑binding, the resolution strengthens the global case for reparations, establishing political consensus that slavery was a crime of exceptional gravity, reaffirming its enduring consequences in concrete terms and providing an authoritative UN framework for future legal, diplomatic, and economic discussions.
What Action Points are Raised in the Motion?
Dialogue on reparatory justice: United Nations Member States are urged to engage in inclusive, good‑faith discussions on reparatory justice, including formal apologies, restitution, compensation, rehabilitation, guarantees of non‑repetition, and legal and systemic reforms to address racism and discrimination.
Restitution of cultural property: the prompt, free return of cultural artefacts, archives, and heritage items to countries of origin, alongside stronger international cooperation on reparations for cultural damage.
Support for reparations initiatives: states are encouraged to support reparatory justice and sustainable development initiatives, including contributing to reparations programmes led by regional organisations.
UN coordination on remembrance and education: stronger UN‑wide coordination on remembrance, education, research, and capacity‑building related to slavery, the trafficking of enslaved Africans, and their legacies.
Voluntary contributions and regional cooperation: voluntary financial contributions from states and cooperation with African Union initiatives through training, capacity‑building, and cultural diplomacy projects.
Regional and international collaboration: Member States and the UN are invited to work with regional organizations (including the African Union, CARICOM, and OAS) to develop frameworks for reparatory justice, dialogue, and reconciliation.
Education and memorialisation: comprehensive education, memorials, museums, research, and public awareness initiatives on slavery, the transatlantic slave trade, and their lasting consequences.
Monitoring and reporting: a report from the Secretary‑General to the General Assembly on States’ implementation of these measures, particularly on remembrance, education, and dialogue.