UN: "Countries Involved in Slave Trade Have Duty to Compensate Descendants of Victims"

UN Urges Slave Trade Countries to Offer Reparations
No Legal Force, But Could Serve as Basis for Lawsuits

The United Nations has urged countries that were directly or indirectly involved in the African slave trade in the past to recognize their legal obligation to provide reparations to the victims.

The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) stated in its “General Recommendation No. 40,” released on August 31 (local time), that “State Parties must implement reparative measures encompassing all forms of remedy for people of African descent.”

The committee emphasized that reparations should include not only financial compensation but also broad measures such as non-monetary actions and structural reforms. AFP reported that this new recommendation offers a fresh interpretation of international human rights treaties and may serve as a significant basis for future claims for reparations related to the slave trade.

CERD is the body responsible for monitoring compliance with the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, which went into effect in 1969. A total of 182 countries are parties to the convention, including the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and Portugal. Among them, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and Portugal were deeply involved in the transatlantic slave trade from the 16th to the 19th century.

During this time, millions of Africans were forcibly taken to the Americas by European traders and endured forced labor under brutal and harsh conditions. Many lost their lives in the process. According to AFP, the historical impact of the slave trade persists today, with many Black people in the relevant countries still facing discrimination and poverty.

Although this recommendation itself does not carry legal force, it is highly authoritative and could be used as a reference in future lawsuits or influence court interpretations of the law, AFP explained.

Previously, in March, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution defining the African slave trade as “one of the most serious crimes against humanity.” At the time, 123 countries, including South Korea, voted in favor, while the United States, Israel, and Argentina opposed it. Many European countries such as the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain, and the Netherlands abstained.

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