RT.com
19 Sep 2023, 23:43 GMT+10
No country has adequately accounted for past atrocities and the ongoing consequences of subjugation, the global body said in a report
The United Nations has advised countries on an array of measures, including financial compensation for colonialism and the enslavement of people of African descent, despite the length of time that has passed and the difficulty of identifying perpetrators and victims.
"Such difficulties cannot be the basis for nullifying the existence of underlying legal obligations," UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a report released on Tuesday, emphasizing the importance of nations demonstrating a commitment to dealing with the ongoing aftermath of slavery.
The report said that "no state has comprehensively accounted for the past and addressed its contemporary legacies" for "violently" uprooting an estimated 25 million to 30 million people from Africa.
For decades, African and Caribbean governments and activists have called for accountability for slavery and the colonization of their countries.
In 2021, Olivia Grange, a senior Jamaican government official, told the media that the former British colony was petitioning Britain for compensation for the Atlantic slave trade. At the time, the Caribbean nation sought 7.6 billion British pounds, or roughly $10.4 billion, in compensation from Britain, which is said to be the amount paid to slaveholders by the colonial power.
Jamaica was reportedly the primary shipment hub for enslaved people. The Spanish and then the British forcibly transported Africans to work on plantations cultivating sugar cane, bananas, and other crops that generated wealth for their owners.
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva announced in July plans by his government to offer technology sharing, specialized professional training catering to Africa's needs, and industrial and agricultural assistance as reparations for contributions made by Africans during slavery.
In the report presented to the UN General Assembly, Guterres said that world powers should consider a "plurality of measures" tailored to the specific demands of a particular affected country to address slavery-era legacies.
"Under international human rights law, compensation for any economically assessable damage, as appropriate and proportional to the gravity of the violation and the circumstances of each case, may also constitute a form of reparations," the report stated.
The report also suggested a public apology, medical and psychological rehabilitation, and guarantees of non-repetition as forms of settlement.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said "reparatory justice is not just about addressing the wrongful acts of the past" but also about building inclusive, equal, and free societies without racial discrimination.
(RT.com)
Get a daily dose of Iran Herald news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Iran Herald.
More InformationREDMOND, Washington: Artificial intelligence is transforming Microsoft's bottom line. The company saved over US$500 million last year...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: A federal rule designed to make it easier for Americans to cancel subscriptions has been blocked by a U.S. appeals...
BASTROP, Texas: In a surprising turn at Elon Musk's X platform, CEO Linda Yaccarino announced she is stepping down, just months after...
NEW YORK CITY, New York: Former British prime minister Rishi Sunak will return to Goldman Sachs in an advisory role, the Wall Street...
LONDON, U.K.: Physically backed gold exchange-traded funds recorded their most significant semi-annual inflow since the first half...
AMSTERDAM, Netherlands: Some 32 percent of global semiconductor production could face climate change-related copper supply disruptions...
In the past month alone, 23 Israeli soldiers have been killed in Gaza—three more than the number of remaining living hostages held...
ABU DHABI, 12th July 2025 (WAM) -- President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has sent a message of congratulations...
Dammam [Saudi Arabia], July 12 (ANI): Union Health Minister and BJP National President JP Nadda engaged with the Chairman of the Saudi-India...
The Hague [Netherlands] July 12 (ANI/WAM): JA UAE delegation led by Omran Sharaf, Assistant Foreign Minister for Advanced Science and...
New Delhi [India], July 12 (ANI): Tomy Thomas, husband of Nimisha Priya, the 37-year-old Indian nurse from Kerala who faces execution...
Tel Aviv [Israel], July 12 (ANI): Gaza has become the graveyard of children and starving people, UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini said,...