UN Declares Transatlantic Slave Trade a “Gravest Crime Against Humanity”

Good evening. It's Wednesday, March 25th, 2026. I'm Alice Beth, and this is your latest NEWS UPDATE from Global News Daily. The United Nations General Assembly has voted to recognize the enslavement of Africans during the transatlantic slave trade as the gravest crime against humanity. The resolution proposed by Ghana is being hailed by advocates as a significant step toward historical acknowledgement, healing, and justice. It not only affirms the scale and severity of the transatlantic slave trade but also urges UN member states to consider issuing formal apologies and contributing to a reparations fund.

However, it does not specify any financial figures. The proposal was adopted with strong support. 123 countries voted in favour. 3 countries voted against the United States, Israel and Argentina. 52 countries abstained, including the United Kingdom and several European Union member states. Some nations, including the UK, have long resisted calls for reparations, arguing that present day institutions should not be held financially responsible for historical injustices. While resolutions from the General Assembly are not legally binding, they carry significant symbolic and political weight, reflecting global opinion and often shaping future international debates.

For our deep dive and analysis, unlock the exclusive subscriber episode in Apple Podcast now. Please follow this show on Spotify, it really helps. Thanks for listening, Global News Daily.