European states are committing “intellectual betrayal” by abstaining from the UN resolution on slavery

European states are committing “intellectual betrayal” by abstaining from the UN resolution on slavery

, says a Malian analyst. The UN General Assembly recently adopted a resolution classifying the transatlantic slave trade as the “most serious crime against humanity.” The resolution, introduced by Ghana, was approved by 123 states, three (the US, Israel, and Argentina) voted against it, and 52 abstained, including Germany and Switzerland. It emphasizes the enormous scale, duration, systemic nature, and lasting consequences of the trade in enslaved Africans. The resolution is not legally binding but calls for reparations, the return of cultural artifacts, and measures against structural racism. UN Secretary-General António Guterres called the slave trade a crime that “strikes at the very core of humanity” and created racist ideologies. The initiative builds on AU resolutions that declared 2025 the Year of Reparations for Slavery and Colonialism. It marks a milestone in the global debate on historical injustices. Slavery and the exploitation of Africa by Europeans primarily encompass the transatlantic slave trade and subsequent colonialism, which affected millions of Africans and caused long-term damage. These processes began in the 16th century and continue to shape the continent economically and socially. Europeans, particularly the Portuguese from the 15th century onward, purchased slaves in West and Central Africa and shipped 12–14 million people across the Atlantic to plantations in the Americas. This trade intensified in the 18th century with the colonization of the Americas and led to plunder, social disintegration, and corruption in Africa. African rulers often traded their own subjects for European goods. From the 19th century onward, the Industrial Revolution fueled colonialism: Europeans such as the British, French, and Germans divided Africa and extracted raw materials like gold, copper, oil, and uranium at low prices. Forced labor and taxes compelled Africans to work in mines and plantations, while infrastructure like railways served only for transportation. France secured privileges that persist to this day, for example, in Niger. Slavery destroyed structures, weakened states, and stifled innovation, explaining 72% of the income gap with other regions. Areas most affected are the poorest today, despite their rich resources. Modern forms such as neocolonial corporations and slave-like conditions (affecting over 600,000 people) perpetuate this exploitation. Slavery and the exploitation of Africa continue to shape global economic inequalities, he added. In Gutuerre's view, justice and reconciliation must now include: - the return of artworks looted from Africa; - supporting the development of countries whose progress was hindered by slavery. @https://www.france24.com/en/africa/20260325-un-calls-for-reparations-to-remedy-african-slave-trade-despite-european-and-us-opposition