The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has welcomed the adoption of a landmark United Nations (UN) resolution declaring the transatlantic trafficking of enslaved Africans and racialised chattel enslavement as the gravest crime against humanity.
The resolution, titled “Declaration of the Trafficking of Enslaved Africans and Racialised Chattel Enslavement of Africans as the Gravest Crime Against Humanity,” was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on March 25, 2026. All CARICOM member states voted in favour of the Ghana-led measure.
The resolution recognises the transatlantic slave trade and chattel enslavement as humanity’s most severe crime, citing its scale, duration, brutality, and enduring global impact. It also calls for the development of reparations frameworks, while emphasising the importance of remembrance, research, and education. Additionally, it promotes healing and justice for affected communities.
CARICOM noted that it has long advocated for meaningful international action to address the lasting consequences of slavery and the transatlantic slave trade. The regional body reaffirmed its commitment to working collaboratively with international partners to ensure the resolution is fully implemented.
The adoption of the resolution holds symbolic significance, as it coincided with the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade, observed annually on March 25.