In a landmark vote at the United Nations, a resolution recognizing the transatlantic slave trade and racialized chattel enslavement of Africans as crimes against humanity was adopted with 123 countries voting in favor, 3 against, and 52 abstentions.
Countries voting in favor included Ghana, Brazil, South Africa, and Jamaica, reflecting broad support from nations directly impacted by the legacy of slavery.
The three countries opposing the resolution were the United States, Israel, and Ukraine, citing concerns over historical selectivity, legal interpretations, and the ranking of crimes against humanity.
Meanwhile, 52 countries abstained, including Germany, India, and Japan. Abstention means these countries chose not to take a definitive yes or no position, often signaling reservations about aspects of the resolution while not actively blocking it.
The overwhelming approval signals a global push for recognition and accountability regarding the historical and ongoing impacts of the transatlantic slave trade, even as a few nations continue to raise legal and political concerns.