The United Nations General Assembly has voted to recognise the enslavement of Africans during the transatlantic slave trade as “the gravest crime against humanity”, a move advocates hope will pave the way for healing and justice.

The resolution - proposed by Ghana - called for this designation, while also urging UN member states to consider apologising for the slave trade and contributing to a reparations fund. It does not mention a specific amount of money.

The proposal was adopted with 123 votes in favour and three against - the United States, Israel and Argentina.

Countries like the UK have long rejected calls to pay reparations, saying today’s institutions cannot be held responsible for past wrongs.

  • Chloé 🥕@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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    8 hours ago

    the states would be paying those reparations, not the people individually

    european states should pay reparations to the nations they colonized and enslaved, and colonial states (the usa, canada…) should pay reparations to their colonized populations.

    • FenrirIII@lemmy.world
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      4 hours ago

      And where do ‘the states’ get their money? Taxes. You’d still be taxing the people to pay for reparations

      • ☂️-@lemmy.ml
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        1 hour ago

        so? why should they live in the comfort their enslavement created while the majority of third world countries contend with poverty caused by their continued imperialism?

        • FenrirIII@lemmy.world
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          32 minutes ago

          Do you realize the immense hypocrisy in your argument? Collectively punish a group of people, who did no wrong, based solely on where they’re born because people hundreds of years ago were dicks.

          • ☂️-@lemmy.ml
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            9 minutes ago

            do you not realize the immense hypocrisy of yours?

            collectively punishing the majority of the world today from consequences of their shit, just so they don’t have to take responsibility for it?

            it may or may not be their fault as individuals, but the state of colonies and neocolonies is still their responsibility as a country.