The United Nations human rights chief, Volker Turk, has called for concrete steps on reparations for people of African descent at a U.N. meeting, adding his voice to the growing demands for justice for slavery atrocities. Support is mounting among African and Caribbean nations for the creation of a tribunal to address reparations, including financial payments and other amends, for crimes dating back to the transatlantic trade of enslaved people.
Turk emphasized the need for governments to show true leadership with genuine commitments to move swiftly from words to action in addressing the wrongs of the past. While the idea of paying reparations has gained traction, it remains divisive and has not been accepted by most former colonial powers.
The Permanent Forum on People of African Descent (PFPAD) announced its conclusions, reiterating a call to set up a slavery tribunal and specifically calling for the analysis of the situation in Haiti and providing appropriate reparations and compensation. The forum also voiced support for a reparations fund announced in Ghana last year.
Despite some countries like the Netherlands apologizing for their role in the transatlantic slave trade and planning a fund to address the past, others like the UK have not committed to paying reparations. The forum’s recommendations will be forwarded to other U.N. bodies for consideration.