UN votes to describe slave trade as ‘gravest crime against humanity’

March 25, 2026

TL;DR

The UN has voted to describe the transatlantic chattel slave trade as the “gravest crime against humanity”.
The resolution calls for reparations as a concrete step towards remedying historical wrongs.
123 states voted in favor, while Argentina, Israel, and the US voted against, with 52 abstentions including the UK and EU members.
The UK stated it disagrees with the text's fundamental propositions and believes there should not be a hierarchy of historical atrocities.
A petition was presented to the UK House of Commons for a state apology for the UK's role in slavery and colonialism.
The petition links global challenges like geopolitical instability, racism, and inequality to the legacies of enslavement and empire.
For centuries, seven European nations, including the UK, enslaved and trafficked over 15 million Africans.
Experts involved in drafting the resolution aim for “political recognition at the highest level” for this historical era.
The resolution is not legally binding but is expected to facilitate progress in the fight for reparatory justice.
The AU has been working to codify chattel slavery as a crime requiring reparatory justice, not just apologies.

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