‘Justice is long overdue’: Guterres calls for reparations for enslavement and colonialism

Secretary-General António Guterres renewed his calls for Member states and the United Nations to work towards justice and reparations for Africans and the diaspora in a speech in New York on Friday. “Africa is a continent of boundless energy and possibility. But for too long, the colossal injustices inflicted by enslavement, the transatlantic slave trade and colonialism have been left unacknowledged and unaddressed,” he said.

The United Nations has repeatedly said that slavery and the transatlantic slave trade constituted crimes against humanity, and the Secretary-General has repeatedly called for redress for these injustices. Speaking to the Africa Dialogue Series — which is focused on the theme of justice through reparations — the Secretary-General noted that the movement for reparatory justice is gaining momentum around the world as reflected by the declaration of the Second Decade for People of African Descent, which runs through 2035.

The last decade, which ended in 2024, yielded tangible results, with over 30 Member States revising laws to better tackle racial discrimination. However, the Secretary-General noted that much work remains. “We point to the poisoned legacies of enslavement and colonialism, not to sow division but to heal them,” he said.

Mr. Guterres underlined the entrenched nature of racism and exploitative systems, saying that these systems have disadvantaged African countries and people of African descent beyond the end of colonialism and enslavement. “Decolonization did not free African countries, or people of African descent, from the structures and prejudices that made those projects possible,” he said. In fact, when the United Nations was founded and many of the global structures established, some African countries were still colonies. “When African countries gained their independence, they inherited a system built to serve others — not them,” the Secretary-General said.

The President of the General Assembly, Philémon Yang, underlined the importance of teaching this history through national curricula and monuments such as The Ark of Return at UN Headquarters. “Knowledge of our true history can serve as a powerful compass in our onward march towards progress,” he said.

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Source: The UN