Luanda: Angola voted on Wednesday at the United Nations in favor of a resolution declaring the trafficking of enslaved Africans and slavery as the gravest crime against humanity. According to Angola Press News Agency, the Angolan vote was witnessed by Dionisio da Fonseca, the Minister of State and Head of the Civil House of the President of the Republic, who represented the Head of State, Joo Lourenço, at the commemorative event for the abolition of slavery and the transatlantic slave trade. The resolution obtained 123 votes in favor, three against and 52 abstentions. The United States of America, Israel and Argentina voted against. The resolution unequivocally condemns the trafficking of enslaved Africans and transatlantic slave trade, classifying them as one of the most inhumane and enduring injustices in human history. It reaffirms the recognition of the profound and persistent impacts of slavery and colonialism, as well as the continuity of phenomena such as racial discrimination and neocolonialism, w hich continue to affect Africans and people of African descent. The resolution highlights the suffering caused over the centuries, including cultural disruption, economic exploitation, emotional trauma, and social exclusion and underlines the importance of addressing historical wrongs in order to promote justice, human rights, dignity, and reconciliation, considering reparations as a concrete step towards correcting these injustices. It encourages Member States to support reparative justice initiatives and sustainable development programs targeted at affected populations. The text also calls on the Secretary-General of the United Nations to strengthen coordination within the UN system on matters relating to memory, education, research, and capacity building on the trafficking of enslaved Africans and their legacies. The initiative is part of international efforts for the historical recognition of injustices committed against African peoples and the promotion of measures aimed at their reparation and inclu sion.
