UN designates African slave trade as 'gravest crime against humanity'President John Mahama of Ghana, a sponsor of the UN resolution, is one of the African Union's most vocal supporters of slavery reparationsUNITED NATIONS (UNITED STATES) - The UN General Assembly on Wednesday designated the transatlantic African slave trade as "the gravest crime against humanity," despite opposition by the United States and some European countries. The United States, Israel and Argentina opposed the measure, while Britain and EU member states abstained. "The transatlantic slave trade was a crime against humanity that struck at the core of personhood, broke up families, and devastated communities," UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said. "The United States also strongly objects to the resolution's attempt to rank crimes against humanity in any type of hierarchy," he added. "The perpetrators of the transatlantic slave trade are known, the Europeans, the United States of America.

Source: Bangkok Post March 25, 2026 22:09 UTC