UN Human Rights Chief Calls for Concrete Steps on Reparations for People of African Descent

United Nations Human Rights Chief Calls for Concrete Steps on Reparations for People of African Descent

In a powerful address at the U.N. Permanent Forum on People of African Descent, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk called for countries to take concrete steps towards reparations for people of African descent. This call for justice for slavery atrocities has gained support among African and Caribbean nations, with growing momentum for the creation of a tribunal to address reparations.

The idea of reparations, which may include financial payments and other amends, for crimes dating back to the transatlantic slave trade has gained traction. However, it remains a divisive issue and has not been accepted by most former colonial powers. While the Netherlands has apologized for its role in the slave trade and plans a 200 million euro fund to address the past, the British government has stated that there are no plans for reparations.

The U.N. Permanent Forum on People of African Descent, which makes recommendations to other U.N. bodies, reiterated its call for a slavery tribunal and specifically called for the analysis of the situation in Haiti. Haitian groups at the forum urged France to repay billions of dollars that were extorted from formerly enslaved people in exchange for recognizing Haiti’s independence two centuries ago.

The forum also expressed support for a reparations fund announced in Ghana last year. The push for reparations is gaining momentum, with calls for governments to show true leadership and move swiftly from words to action in addressing the wrongs of the past.

As the debate on reparations continues, the international community is being urged to confront the legacy of slavery and take meaningful steps towards justice and restitution for people of African descent.