Bogotá, Colombia – The President of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, has officially pledged Brazil’s support for Ghana’s United Nations resolution seeking formal recognition of the transatlantic slave trade as a crime against humanity, strengthening the global push for reparatory justice.
Speaking at the CELAC–Africa Summit in Bogotá, President Lula endorsed the initiative championed by President John Dramani Mahama, signalling rising international support ahead of the UN General Assembly vote scheduled for 25 March 2026.
“Brazil supports the African Group at the United Nations in recognising human trafficking and the slave trade as among the gravest atrocities in human history,” President Lula told fellow heads of state and foreign ministers.
The resolution, expected to be tabled at the UN General Assembly, aims to formally recognise the transatlantic slave trade as one of history’s most egregious crimes. It forms part of Ghana’s broader campaign to secure global acknowledgment of historical injustices and pave the way for reparatory mechanisms.
The transatlantic slave trade, which lasted over four centuries, forcibly displaced an estimated 12 million Africans, with millions perishing during capture, transit, and enslavement in the Americas. Brazil was the largest single destination, receiving a significant proportion of those trafficked.
Ghana’s diplomatic efforts have already earned support from the African Union, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), and several Asian states, reflecting a growing consensus among Global South nations on addressing the enduring legacy of slavery.
Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa emphasised that the resolution is rooted in historical accountability, not financial demands. “The call for reparatory justice is about recognising the profound injustices inflicted on Africans and their descendants. It is not merely a pursuit of monetary compensation,” he said in an interview on RT.
President Mahama, designated by the African Union as its champion on reparations, first announced plans to table the resolution during his 2025 UN General Assembly address. Formal adoption would strengthen international legal and moral frameworks to address the long-term socio-economic impacts of slavery.
If passed, the resolution is expected to intensify global discussions on reparations, including calls for former colonial powers and institutions linked to the slave trade to acknowledge responsibility and consider restitution. For Ghana, the initiative aligns with its broader foreign policy agenda on historical redress, diaspora engagement, and establishing the country as a leading voice on global justice issues.