UN Committee Urges Reparations for Slave Trade Under 1965 Convention

On Monday, the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination put out new recommendations urging countries to think about providing reparations for the transatlantic slave trade. They based this on a legally binding convention from 1965 concerning racial discrimination. This marks a notable shift from past discussions where governments often used historical responsibility as a reason to dismiss reparations. The committee is clear that member states need to implement comprehensive reparatory measures for people of African descent that can be brought up in court. From the 15th to the 19th centuries, more than 12.5 million Africans were forcibly taken, which is the largest forced migration ever. While there's a growing movement for reparations, some critics argue that today's governments shouldn't be held accountable for historical wrongs. Back in March, both the EU and the UK chose not to support a UN resolution on slavery.