The United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution declaring the transatlantic slave trade a “heinous crime against humanity,” reports the Dunyo news agency citing UN News.

It is noted that the document was initiated by Ghana. It was supported by 123 countries, including Uzbekistan; the United States, Israel, and Argentina voted against, while 52 countries abstained, including the United Kingdom and several EU states.

The authors of the resolution hope this step will serve as an important milestone toward historical recognition, healing, and the restoration of justice for the descendants of the victims.

The resolution calls on member states to consider issuing official apologies for their participation in the slave trade and to contribute to a reparations fund, although no specific amounts are indicated. UN General Assembly decisions are not legally binding but reflect the position of the international community.

Ghana’s President John Mahama stated that adopting the document is a “protection against forgetting” and an acknowledgment of the suffering of millions of people. Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa emphasized that this is not about personal gain but about restoring justice through educational, social, and investment funds to support descendants of slavery victims. According to him, the effects of the slave trade continue to manifest as racial inequality and economic underdevelopment.

Between the 15th and 19th centuries, 12 to 15 million Africans were forcibly transported to the Americas as slaves; over two million died during the journey. The resolution also notes that the consequences of this period continue to affect the lives of people of African descent worldwide.

At the same time, several countries expressed disagreement with the wording of the document. Representatives of the US and the UK stated that some historical tragedies should not be singled out as more significant than others, and they questioned the legal basis for reparations. The US side noted that it does not recognize legal obligations to compensate for historical events that were not considered illegal at the time.

Additionally, the resolution raises the issue of returning cultural property taken during the colonial period. Ghana and other African countries insist on repatriating artifacts, considering them an important part of cultural and spiritual heritage. This initiative, like the question of reparations, is likely to remain the subject of active international discussion in the coming years.