The UN recognises slave trade as ‘gravest crime’: What now?

联合国将奴隶贸易视为“最严重的罪行”:接下来怎么办?

What in the World

2026-03-30

9 分钟
PDF

单集简介 ...

The United Nations has voted to recognise the transatlantic slave trade as the “gravest crime against humanity”, after a proposal from Ghana. It comes after years of campaigning from African and Caribbean nations, calling for reparations for the largest long-distance forced movement of people in recorded history. But not all governments supported the vote. The US, Israel and Argentina voted against it and 52 countries - mostly members of the EU - decided not to take part. The wording of the resolution has received criticism, with some arguing it implies that some crimes against humanity are worse than others. So what does this vote mean - and how could it change the way we look at this chapter of history in the future? BBC Africa reporter Daniel Dadzie joins us for this episode to explain it all - along with two students based in Accra, Malisecullen and Abena. We also hear from Meghan in the US, who shares her thoughts on her country rejecting the vote. Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Iqra Farooq Producers: Mora Morrison, William Lee Adams and Chelsea Coates Editor: Verity Wilde
更多

单集文稿 ...

  • This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the UK.

  • Available now on The Documentary from the BBC World Service.

  • Since the 1970s, India's sent thousands of babies abroad to be adopted into Western families.

  • Stephanie from France is one of them.

  • I'm Tanya Datta.

  • Join us on Stephanie's quest to find her roots in India's shadow children.

  • Listen now by searching for The Documentary wherever you get your BBC podcasts.

  • Hey, it's Ikra, and this is What's in the World from the BBC World Service.

  • In this episode, we 're going to talk about a vote to recognise the transatlantic slave trade

  • as the gravest crime against humanity.

  • We 're going to find out what that all means,

  • why the United Nations was voting on this in the first place, and what could happen next.

  • All that to come soon, but first, I want to quickly remind you of the history behind all this.

  • The transatlantic slave trade was the largest long-distance forced movement of people in recorded history.

  • It started in the 1500s and over 400 years,

  • around 12 to 15 million people were shipped across the Atlantic to the Caribbean and the Americas in cruel conditions.

  • Millions died in the process.

  • The impact of that moment in history can still be felt today, with many African countries calling for reparations,

  • or in other words compensation, such as money or an apology for the damaged cause.

  • OK, so that's a bit of background to all this.