Members of the United Nations forum on people of African descent have called for additional funding to support their efforts towards reparations for descendants of African slaves who were captured and trafficked across Transatlantic countries. A Howard University law professor representing the U.S. at the forum urged the U.N. to increase financial support for reparations, emphasizing the need for action to back up words.
The remarks were made during a session of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent (PFPAD) in Geneva, Switzerland. The U.S. Special Representative for Racial Equity and Justice acknowledged the need for the United States to address its deep-rooted racial injustices.
U.N. General Secretary António Guterres highlighted that racism has its roots in the historical enslavement of African people and colonialism, emphasizing the importance of reparations in addressing this issue today. The U.N. General Assembly established the PFPAD in 2021 to serve as a platform for improving the safety and quality of life for people of African descent.
The Transatlantic slave trade involved the kidnapping and trafficking of over 12 million African individuals to North and South America, known as the Middle Passage. Guterres has been advocating for reparations, citing the need to overcome generations of exclusion and discrimination.
A U.N. report released last year called for countries to consider financial reparations and other measures to address the legacy of slavery that has persisted for over 400 years. Similar calls for reparations are gaining momentum in the U.S., with various cities and states exploring the implementation of reparations programs.
Efforts towards reparations have been proposed or are expected to be implemented in cities across California, Georgia, Tennessee, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, and North Carolina.
