Declaration of the Trafficking of Enslaved Africans and Racialized Chattel Enslavement of Africans as the Gravest Crime Against Humanity

A/RES/80/250View PDF

Who adopted this document and its mandates?

A Resolution of the General Assembly, under agenda item 119 Commemoration of the abolition of slavery and the transatlantic slave trade, published in 2026.

What subjects does this mandate have?

6 subjects

Africans Crimes Against Humanity Declarations (Text)Reparation Slavery Trafficking in Persons

What’s in this document?

16 operative paragraphs

Unequivocally condemns the trafficking of enslaved Africans and racialized chattel enslavement of Africans, slavery and the transatlantic slave trade as the most inhumane and enduring injustice against humanity;

Declares the trafficking of enslaved Africans and racialized chattel enslavement of Africans as the gravest crime against humanity;

Emphasizes the trafficking of enslaved Africans and racialized chattel enslavement of Africans as the gravest crime against humanity by reason of the definitive break in world history, scale, duration, systemic nature, brutality and enduring consequences that continue to structure the lives of all people through racialized regimes of labour, property and capital;

Recognizes that the trafficking of Africans and racialized chattel enslavement of Africans constitute violations of jus cogens;

Reaffirms its collective recognition of the profound and lasting impacts of the abhorrent regimes of slavery and colonialism and the persistence of racial discrimination and neo-colonialism on Africans and people of African descent and how this continues to cause immense suffering, cultural disruption, economic exploitation, emotional trauma and unending discrimination endured by Africans and people of African descent throughout history;

Affirms the importance of addressing historical wrongs affecting Africans and people of African descent in a manner that promotes justice, human rights, dignity and healing, and emphasizes that claims for reparations represent a concrete step towards remedying historical wrongs against Africans and people of African descent;

Notes that in various historical contexts, reparations and other forms of redress have been provided in respect of other grave crimes committed against particular groups, reflecting the principle under international law that international wrongful acts entail a duty of reparation, and notes with concern that no comprehensive reparatory framework has yet been realized for the trafficking of enslaved Africans and racialized chattel enslavement of Africans, despite its scale, duration and enduring consequences;

Calls upon Member States, individually and collectively, to engage in inclusive, good-faith dialogue on reparatory justice, including a full and formal apology, measures of restitution, compensation, rehabilitation, satisfaction, guarantees of non‑repetition and changes to laws, programmes and services to address racism and systemic discrimination;

Calls for the prompt and unhindered restitution of cultural properties, objets d’art, monuments, museum pieces, artefacts, manuscripts and documents, and national archives that are of spiritual, historical and cultural or other value to countries of origin without charge, and urges the strengthening of international cooperation on reparations for any damage done, recognizing that this leads to the promotion of national culture and the enjoyment of cultural rights by present and future generations;

Encourages Member States to support initiatives aimed at reparatory justice and sustainable development for affected peoples, including consideration of contributions to reparations-related programmes established by relevant regional organizations;

Requests the Secretary-General, in coordination with the United Nations system, including the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, to strengthen coordination on remembrance, education, research and capacity-building related to the trafficking of enslaved Africans and racialized chattel enslavement of Africans and its legacies;

Encourages Member States to make voluntary contributions to support coordination efforts within the United Nations system on remembrance, education, research and capacity-building related to the trafficking of enslaved Africans, racialized chattel enslavement of Africans and its enduring legacies, and also encourages Member States to cooperate with relevant initiatives of the African Union through capacity-building, technical training, and support for cultural diplomacy projects of mutual interest;

Invites the African Union, the Caribbean Community, the Organization of American States and other relevant regional and subregional organizations to collaborate with Member States and United Nations entities in developing frameworks for dialogue, cooperation and action on reparatory justice and reconciliation;

Encourages Member States to promote comprehensive educational programmes, memorialization initiatives and scholarly research on slavery, the trafficking of enslaved Africans and racialized chattel enslavement of Africans and their consequences, including through curricula, museums, heritage sites and public awareness campaigns;

Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its eighty-second session a report on the actions taken by States in implementation of the present resolution, including progress made in remembrance, education and dialogue on reparatory justice;

Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its eighty-second session the item entitled “Commemoration of the abolition of slavery and the transatlantic slave trade” to consider the report of the Secretary-General.

Who adopted this document and its mandates?

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