Reactions have been trailing the resolution of the United Nations General Assembly which voted to describe the translantic slave trade which affected over 15 million africans as the “gravest crime against humanity” with a call for reparations to remedy the wrongs.”
At the session in New York, 123 nations voted in favour, while Argentina, Israel and the United States voted against the resolution.
The United Kingdom, one of 9 European countries involved in the four century-long trans-atlantic slave trade, was among 52 nations which abstained.
The African Union and the Carribean Community were the biggest backers of the resolution.
And a huge 123 member nations of the global body lent their voices to it.
But the thing is that it is non-binding.
A little historical account of what happened: Britain was a foremost country which supported the slave trade.
MUST READ: UN declares transatlantic slave trade as crime against humanity
Infact, King Charles the Second, gave a royal charter for a company to be set to get involved in the 16th century, but by 1833, Slavery had been abolished through the efforts of persons such as William Wilberforce.
But the issue of reparations and atonement continues to be a talking point.
Infact at the last Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting, current British Monarch King Charles the 3rd described it as evil, but the UK has stopped short on anything on reparations.
She posted on X that the UK should have voted against the resolution saying the UK “should not be paying for a crime we helped eradicate.”
The Tory leader is referencing the Act of Parliament of almost 200 years ago.
But the calls are louder, especially by descendants of those impacted in Africa and in the Black Diaspora, for something concrete- especially financial reparations- to be done about the sufferings of their ancestors.
(Editor: Ebuwa Omo-Osagie)
