In a highly symbolic, though legally non-binding decision, the United Nations General Assembly has passed a resolution recognizing the transatlantic slave trade as the "gravest crime against humanity." Initiated by Ghana, the motion garnered the support of 123 out of 193 member states, with unanimous backing from the African Union and Caribbean nations. However, the vote exposed deep geopolitical and historical divides, notably drawing abstentions from Germany, the United Kingdom, and all other European Union member states, while the United States, Israel, and Argentina voted against it.
The German government justified its abstention by pointing to the specific wording of the resolution. Martin Giese, a spokesperson for the Federal Foreign Office, explained that labeling the slave trade as the absolute "gravest crime in human history" implies a hierarchy among crimes against humanity. Given Germany's historical responsibility for the Holocaust—the systematic genocide of European Jews under National Socialism—Berlin felt unable to endorse this specific phrasing.
The decision has sparked domestic debate. Awet Tesfaiesus, a Member of Parliament for the Green Party, acknowledged the historical sensitivity surrounding the Holocaust but criticized the government's approach. She argued that the conservative-social democrat coalition under Chancellor Friedrich Merz treats the legacy of colonialism as a secondary issue. "Germany could have at least provided an official explanation," Tesfaiesus stated, noting that the UK had done so. She emphasized that while Germany may not have been a primary active participant in the transatlantic slave trade, the nation undeniably profited from its broader economic benefits.
Beyond historical semantics, financial and legal concerns heavily influenced the European abstentions. The resolution, introduced by Ghanaian Foreign Minister Samuel Ablakwa, explicitly links slavery, colonialism, and racism to ongoing suffering and calls for formal apologies and reparations. These could include financial compensation, debt relief, and the restitution of looted cultural artifacts. To date, the Netherlands remains the only EU country to have officially apologized for its role in slavery.
Government insiders in Berlin privately admit that supporting the resolution could trigger a massive wave of lawsuits against Germany—a concern the German UN delegation reportedly relayed to Ghanaian representatives behind closed doors.
The historical scale of the transatlantic slave trade remains staggering. Between 1500 and 1800, an estimated 12 to 15 million Africans were captured, enslaved, and forcibly transported across the Atlantic to the Americas and the Caribbean. Historians estimate that more than two million people perished during the brutal voyage.
We use cookies to improve your experience. Privacy Policy