UN Chief Calls for Action Against Racism and Slavery’s Lasting Legacy
Systemic Racism and Injustice Persist
Addressing the UN General Assembly, Secretary-General António Guterres highlighted the ongoing impact of systemic racism, economic exclusion, and racial violence, which continue to hinder the progress of people of African descent.
He urged governments to recognize the truth about the transatlantic slave trade and take meaningful steps to address its lasting consequences.
“For too long, the crimes of the transatlantic slave trade – and their ongoing impact – have remained unacknowledged, unspoken, and unaddressed,” he stated, criticizing efforts to erase history and downplay the deep harm caused by slavery.
“The vast profits gained from chattel slavery and the racist ideologies that justified the trade still influence our societies,” he added.
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Centuries of Oppression
For over four centuries, between 25 and 30 million Africans—nearly a third of the continent’s population at the time—were forcibly taken from their homelands. Many perished during the brutal Atlantic crossing.
This exploitation tore families apart, devastated entire communities, and condemned generations to bondage, all driven by greed and perpetuated by racist ideologies that persist today.
In recognition of those who suffered, the UN established March 25 as the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade in 2007.
The date commemorates the passage of the Abolition of the Slave Trade Act in the United Kingdom in 1807, which followed the Haitian Revolution. Haiti became the first nation to gain independence through the efforts of enslaved people overthrowing their oppressors.
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Forced to Pay for Their Own Freedom
Even after slavery was legally abolished, its victims were rarely compensated. In some cases, formerly enslaved people were forced to pay for their freedom.
Haiti, for example, was compelled to provide massive financial compensation to former enslavers—a burden that left the young nation trapped in economic hardship for generations.
“Today is not just a day of remembrance. It is also a time to reflect on the enduring legacies of slavery and colonialism and to strengthen our resolve to combat these injustices,” said Guterres.
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A Call for Action Against Racism
Guterres urged governments, businesses, and civil society to take decisive measures to combat racism and discrimination. He called for the full implementation of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination and adherence to human rights commitments.
“Acknowledging this truth is not just necessary—it is essential for addressing past wrongs, healing the present, and building a just and dignified future for all,” he emphasized.
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The Lasting Stains of Injustice
UN General Assembly President Philémon Yang echoed these concerns, noting that despite the legal abolition of slavery, its legacy persists in racial inequalities affecting generations.
“The stains of injustice are not easily erased,” he remarked, pointing to ongoing disparities in housing, employment, healthcare, education, and criminal justice systems.
Yang stressed that addressing these inequalities requires not just acknowledgment but concrete policy reforms that ensure equity and inclusion.
He also emphasized the importance of education in confronting this painful history, urging nations to integrate the history of slavery and its repercussions into school curricula to inform future generations and combat prejudice.
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The Ark of Return: Honoring the Past
This year’s commemoration also marked the tenth anniversary of the Ark of Return, a permanent memorial at UN Headquarters in New York honoring the victims of slavery and the transatlantic slave trade.
Standing against the backdrop of the East River, the white marble monument, designed by Haitian-American architect Rodney Leon, serves as a tribute to the resilience of those who suffered under slavery. It also aims to educate visitors about the ongoing dangers of racism and exclusion.
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A Living Monument to Justice
Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka addressed the commemoration, reflecting on the significance of the Ark of Return.
Recognizing the importance of memorials, Soyinka urged world leaders to go beyond static monuments and create evolving spaces that actively promote justice and reconciliation.
“It is impossible to quantify reparations for such a global atrocity,” he said, emphasizing the role of symbolic gestures in addressing historical injustices.
He proposed a new initiative—the Heritage Voyage of Return—which would retrace the paths of transatlantic slave ships, stopping at historical ports where enslaved Africans were taken.
This journey, he suggested, could serve as a living exhibition, featuring repatriated African artifacts, cultural events, and educational dialogues to foster awareness and reflection.
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