Source: Fortune.com
Summary
The U.N. General Assembly adopted a resolution declaring the transatlantic slave trade “the gravest crime against humanity” and calling for reparations. The resolution also urges the return of cultural items to their countries of origin. The vote was 123-3, with 52 abstentions, including the United Kingdom and all 27 EU members. The United States opposed the resolution, citing concerns about ranking crimes against humanity and the legality of reparations for historical wrongs.
Our Reading
The numbers tell one story.
The U.N. General Assembly’s resolution on slavery reparations has sparked a familiar debate. The United States, Argentina, and Israel voted against the resolution, while the United Kingdom and EU members abstained. The resolution’s language, including the phrase “the gravest crime against humanity,” has raised concerns about ranking atrocities. Meanwhile, Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama hailed the resolution as a step towards healing and reparative justice.
The announcement sounds like a carefully calibrated statement, designed to appease multiple stakeholders while avoiding concrete commitments.
Author: Evan Null
