Human rights organisations have commended the United Nations General Assembly for adopting a resolution declaring slavery the gravest crime against humanity, even as they criticised 52 countries that opposed the move.
The groups, Grassroots Center for Rights and Civic Orientation and Global Human Rights Monitors, described the March 25 vote as a historic step towards justice for Africans and their descendants.
In a statement on Saturday, they said the decision by 123 countries to support the resolution demonstrated growing global recognition of the atrocities of the trans-Atlantic slave trade and racialised chattel slavery.
However, they condemned countries that voted against or abstained, accusing them of failing to acknowledge their roles in what they described as one of the darkest chapters in human history.
“The dignity of Africans is sacrosanct,” the groups stated, adding that nations that opposed the resolution had shown a lack of commitment to justice and accountability.
They noted that the forced extraction and transportation of millions of Africans over four centuries remained a grave injustice with lasting social and economic consequences.
Drawing comparisons with Holocaust reparations, the organisations argued that countries responsible for slavery should adopt similar measures to compensate victims and their descendants.
They also commended Ghana for sponsoring the resolution, praising President John Mahama for his leadership and courage in pushing the initiative despite opposition.
The groups further acknowledged the role of the African Union and the collective efforts of African states in keeping the issue of reparative justice on the global agenda.
They stressed that reparations should go beyond financial compensation to include acknowledgment of historical wrongs and restoration of dignity.
According to them, failure to address the legacy of slavery risks reinforcing the same ideologies that enabled it.
The organisations urged African and diaspora nations to remain united in pursuing justice, insisting that the global demand for reparations cannot be ignored.
They added that although the resolution is non-binding, it marks a significant step towards accountability and recognition of the enduring impact of slavery.