The United Nations General Assembly has adopted a landmark resolution declaring the Transatlantic Slave Trade the gravest crime against humanity, marking a significant milestone in global efforts to confront the legacy of slavery and advance reparatory justice.
Following a vote at the UN headquarters in New York on March 25, 2026, the resolution, designated item 119 – A/80/L.48, was adopted with 123 member states voting in favour, three against, and 52 abstentions, reflecting broad international support despite some divisions. Argentina, Israel and the United States of America voted against the resolution.
The development follows sustained diplomatic efforts led by John Dramani Mahama, who tabled the resolution on behalf of the African Union as part of a renewed continental push for global recognition of historical injustices against Africans and people of African descent.
Titled “Declaration of the Trafficking of Enslaved Africans and Racialised Chattel Enslavement of Africans as the Gravest Crime Against Humanity,” the resolution represents the first comprehensive United Nations framework addressing both enslavement and the transatlantic slave trade.
Its adoption is expected to lay the groundwork for intensified global conversations on reparatory justice, accountability, and reconciliation, as nations and institutions increasingly confront the enduring socio-economic consequences of slavery.
The resolution’s passage is being widely regarded as a historic step forward in the pursuit of justice and recognition for victims of the transatlantic slave trade and their descendants.
Story by: Hussein Habibata Maltiti
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