A United Nations forum dedicated to addressing the legacies of transatlantic slavery opened with calls for increased funding and reparations. Key figures, including UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and other international representatives, emphasized the importance of confronting historical injustices and supporting ongoing efforts through the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent.
The Permanent Forum on People of African Descent convened on Tuesday, advocating for increased financial support and further strides towards reparations for the damages caused by transatlantic slavery and its residual impacts on modern society.
Historically, for over four centuries, approximately 12.5 million Africans were forcibly removed, transported thousands of kilometers by primarily European traders and ships, and enslaved. Those who survived the harsh journey were compelled to work on plantations in the Americas, predominantly in Brazil and the Caribbean, enriching others through their forced labor.
During the third session of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent (PFPAD) held in Geneva, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres emphasized in a video message the foundational role of slavery and colonialism in shaping contemporary racism. He advocated for reparations as a crucial component of addressing these injustices.
The concept of reparations for the transatlantic slave trade has been controversial and long-debated but is increasingly gaining international traction.
Gaynel Curry, representing the Bahamas at the forum, underscored the essential nature of reparations in any substantive discussion on development, stating, “There can be no real discussion about development without a discussion about reparations.”
The PFPAD, during its inaugural session in 2022, recommended the creation of a special tribunal dedicated to the issue of reparations.
Justin Hansford, a law professor from Howard University supported by the U.S. State Department for his role in the forum, urged U.N. member states to financially support the PFPAD, emphasizing the need for concrete actions to support verbal commitments. “Back up your words with action,” Hansford urged.
Desiree Cormier Smith, the U.S. Special Representative for Racial Equity and Justice, addressed the historical racial injustices in the United States at the forum, acknowledging the nation’s ongoing struggle to fully embrace its foundational values of freedom and equality. She highlighted the vital role of civil society in maintaining these values, stating, “Although my country has never fully lived up to the values of freedom and equality for all, we have also never walked away from them – and that’s largely thanks to civil society.” The session is set to conclude on Friday.
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