UN Resolution: Slavery, Justice and Lasting Redress

RRI.CO.ID . Jakarta : Slavery has always existed, but it became a huge global business during European exploration, known as transatlantic slavery. From the 15th to the 19th centuries, this period brought terrible suffering to colonized people. Now, there's a big effort in international meetings to recognize this history, its effects, and how it still impacts us today.

African nations strongly support a new plan at the UN. They want the world to finally admit how brutal and massive this slave trade was. They also hope it will start real talks about fairness and making things right for the past.

Supporters believe this new UN resolution is a big step forward. It will help everyone see how slavery still causes inequality today. Ghana’s President John Mahama, who leads the fight for reparations, went to the UN to get support for this important cause.

President Mahama spoke about how the resolution lets the world acknowledge the pain of over 12.5 million Africans. These people were violently taken from their homes over 400 years, losing everything. He said the resolution helps us remember and prevents anyone from trying to hide or downplay this history.

The resolution clearly states that forcing Africans into slavery and treating them as property was the worst crime against humanity. It also points out how this system still causes racial discrimination and new forms of colonialism today. African Union officials say the exact words are key, showing that this wasn't an accident, but deliberate acts that created today's unfair world.

Beyond just recognizing the past, the resolution encourages countries involved in the slave trade to work towards "restorative justice." Ghana’s Foreign Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, said Europe and the U.S. should apologize to Africa and people of African descent. He suggested giving back stolen cultural items, fighting racism, and possibly paying money to affected communities.

However, some UN countries aren't fully happy with the resolution's words. They worry that calling slavery the "gravest" crime might make other suffering seem less important. But Ablakwa explained that they aren't comparing pain. He said the sheer size, long duration, and deep impact of the transatlantic slave trade truly make it worthy of the strongest possible description. Everyone hopes this resolution will change how we deal with history and its ongoing effects.

SOURCE : RFI.fr