By HeapNews
The Pan African Lawyers Union (PALU) has backed a proposal by Ghana to formally recognise the transatlantic trafficking and enslavement of Africans as the “gravest” crime against humanity, ahead of a United Nations debate on the issue.
Ghana’s President, John Dramani Mahama, announced plans for the resolution during the General Debate of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly in September 2025.
The proposal was scheduled for debate on March 25, 2026, coinciding with the International Day of Remembrance for the Victims of the Transatlantic Slave Trade.
In a statement, PALU said it stood in solidarity with Ghana, acting on behalf of the African Union, describing the initiative as a historic opportunity to reshape global discourse on historical justice, memory and reparations.
“This moment presents an important opportunity to strengthen African unity around our shared history and to reaffirm our collective responsibility to honour the memory of our ancestors,” the organisation said.
PALU called on countries across Africa and the diaspora to support the resolution, urging a unified vote to demonstrate “collective strength” and commitment to pursuing reparatory justice for Africans and people of African descent.
The group also welcomed growing cooperation between the African Union and the Caribbean Community, including joint efforts under a transcontinental partnership aimed at advancing reparations.
It said recognition of slavery and trafficking as the gravest crime against humanity would reflect the scale, duration and enduring global impact of the transatlantic slave trade, which it described as a “foundational rupture” that reshaped political, economic and legal systems worldwide.
PALU argued that the legacy of slavery continues to affect African and diaspora communities across generations, calling for sustained commitment to truth-telling, accountability and redress.
“An abstention or vote against this resolution would place the international community on the wrong side of history,” the statement said, urging governments and global institutions to support the measure.
The organisation added that adopting the resolution would help lay the foundation for reconciliation, restore public trust and strengthen global solidarity with communities affected by the enduring consequences of slavery.