The United Nations General Assembly has taken a significant step towards acknowledging the atrocities of the past by recognizing the transatlantic slave trade as “the gravest crime against humanity”. This resolution, proposed by Ghana, was adopted with 123 votes in favor, while the United States, Israel, and Argentina voted against it. Fifty-two countries, including the UK and EU member states, abstained from the vote. The resolution calls for UN member states to consider apologizing for their role in the slave trade and contributing to a reparations fund, although it doesn’t specify an amount. Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama emphasized that this move is about justice, not financial gain, and aims to address the lasting impact of slavery on African nations and communities of African descent. The US, UK, and EU countries expressed concerns that the resolution implies a hierarchy among crimes against humanity and argued that current institutions shouldn’t be held responsible for historical wrongs. Despite this, advocates see this as a crucial step towards healing and reparatory justice.