anti-slavery

Britain is facing increasing pressure to consider reparatory justice for its role in the transatlantic slave trade, which reached its peak in the 1700s, resulting in millions of Africans being forcibly transported to British colonies across the Americas and the Caribbean. As leaders of the Commonwealth, a group of 56 nations largely rooted in Britain’s colonial past, gather in Samoa, discussions are expected to include reparations, despite British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer stating the topic is not on the agenda. Diplomatic sources suggest that negotiations are underway to address the issue. Britain has yet to issue a formal apology for its ties to slavery, and estimates indicate that reparations could amount to trillions of pounds. The debate over reparations, while longstanding, has gained renewed global attention. Supporters argue that contemporary racial inequalities are a direct result of historical injustices, while opponents contend that nations should not be held accountable for past wrongs. Notably, all three candidates vying for the Commonwealth’s next Secretary-General from Ghana, Lesotho, and Gambia have advocated for financial reparations.