Brazil
Picnews
Brazil has thrown its weight behind a UN resolution to recognize the transatlantic slave trade as the “gravest crime against humanity”. This move is part of Ghana’s efforts to secure international recognition of the historical injustices of slavery and advance discussions on reparatory justice.
The resolution, titled “Declaration of the Trafficking of Enslaved Africans and Racialised Chattel Enslavement of Africans as the Gravest Crime Against Humanity”, is scheduled for consideration and adoption by the UN General Assembly on March 25, 2026. Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama is leading the campaign, with Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva announcing his country’s support during the CELAC-Africa Summit in Colombia.
Brazil’s backing is significant, given its historical ties to Africa and its large population of people of African descent. The country was one of the largest destinations for enslaved Africans during the transatlantic slave trade.
The proposed resolution seeks formal recognition of the transatlantic slave trade as a crime against humanity, alongside calls for the return of looted cultural artefacts linked to African heritage and kingdoms. Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, emphasized that the move is about shared recognition of the profound injustices inflicted on Africans and their descendants, rather than just monetary compensation.
The initiative has already garnered support from key regional blocs, including the African Union and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), as well as several Asian countries. President Mahama, who serves as the African Union’s champion on reparations, is driving a unified continental effort to pursue restitution from Western nations.
The recognition of the transatlantic slave trade as a crime against humanity is seen as a milestone in addressing the enduring legacy of slavery. Advocates argue it’s essential for advancing global justice and accountability.
Ghana’s diplomatic push reflects a broader foreign policy agenda focused on historical redress,.
The resolution is expected to strengthen international legal and moral frameworks addressing the long-term socio-economic consequences of slavery. If adopted, it could mark a historic milestone in international law and reshape global discourse on accountability, memory, and justice for centuries-old injustices.
