... UN recognizes slavery of Africans as ‘’the gravest crime against humanity’’ The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) voted this week to recognize the enslavement of Africans between the year 1500 and 1800 as “the gravest crime humanity.’’ A crime against humanity in international law is a severe, widespread, or systematic atrocity committed against civilian populations, including murder, enslavement, torture, and deportation- often directed by states or organizations. This recognition, more than 220 years overdue, smells of ‘justice delayed is justice denied’. However, this as it may, one would hope that at least, every human being agrees with this categorization. Far from it, only 123 out of 193 members of the United Nations Organization voted in favour of this recognition. So, where do 70 members fall? Fifty -two (52) countries abstained, and three- the United States of America, Israel and Argentina- voted against the resolution; which was proposed by Ghana. Nothing was said of the remaining fifteen members - maybe they were absent! The United Kingdom – the imperial power of the time and a major player in that ‘trade’ - was among the abstainers, as well as the entire European Union Membership. I have a feeling that countries opposed to this resolution are just swimming against a historical tide and it is a futile exercise. I mean, after more than two centuries, the issue has refused to go away, and is now inching towards reparation and reparatory justice. To me, even the fact that this resolution saw the light of the day is a sign of a new world order. In the yester world, the powerful countries would have instructed the smaller ones how to behave. The UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres decided to be on the right side of history against his European compatriots. Welcoming the vote, he said that the wealth of many Western nations was built on stolen lives and stolen labour. Under the UN system, only Security Council resolutions are legally binding, while UNGA resolutions may only carry persuasive power. This persuasiveness is powerfully encapsulated in the Ghanaian President’s statement: ‘’the adoption of this resolution serves as a safeguard against forgetting. It also challenges the enduring scars of slavery’’ he said. Therefore, the utility of this resolution or lack of it depends on how the global public opinion receives it, and what happens next. Campaigners and leaders backing this resolution hope it will open the way for an apology, reparation, healing and justice for the victims. Some African diplomats were clearly disappointed. Uganda’s Permanent representative to the UN Adonia Ayebare wrote on his X account: ‘’If our European Friends and other partners cannot support this common sense and historical United Nations General Assembly resolution on slave trade as the gravest crime against humanity, how can they expect us to support resolutions that concern them?’’ he wrote, reminding those against the resolution that ‘’The UN committee rooms and the GA plenary hall have a long memory’’. He attached a chart of how countries voted to his message, lest we forget! ‘’Common sense’’ is not common Mr Ambassador. Only common interests exist. You know that better than I do! Ignatius Mugabo is a keen observer of global affairs.
