With centuries of silence behind them and global momentum finally on their side, Caribbean leaders say the time for polite conversations about slavery reparations has passed, and, the era of demands has begun.
Calls for reparations are no longer just echoing through diplomatic halls, they’re demanding action.
Speaking in New York on Tuesday, Hilary Brown, a representative of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), urged world leaders to move beyond symbolic gestures and address the legacy of slavery with tangible redress. Her remarks came during the second day of the United Nations’ Permanent Forum on People of African Descent.
“Enough talk, time for concrete results,” Brown said, as she called on former colonial powers to be held accountable for centuries of exploitation.
The momentum for reparations has grown steadily in recent years, especially from CARICOM and the African Union (AU), who now speak with one voice. Their joint advocacy has created what Brown described as a “defining moment,” an opportunity to push for reparations at the highest levels of global governance.
CARICOM’s ten-point plan includes demands for technology transfers, investments in healthcare, and education reform to address the lasting scars of slavery. The AU is drafting its own framework, but the shared vision is clear: financial justice and formal recognition of historical wrongdoing.
At least 12.5 million Africans were enslaved and transported across the Atlantic between the 15th and 19th centuries. Advocates argue that modern states still benefit from the wealth created during that period, and that moral responsibility cannot be dismissed as ancient history.
Brown urged the United Nations and other intergovernmental bodies to support a global platform for reparations. One proposal includes a joint UN resolution and a high-level political forum focused on the issue.
“CARICOM is ready to take this agenda to the next level,” she said, adding that the partnership with the African Union could help ensure “Europe is held to account.”
Resistance remains stiff. Many European governments have opposed even discussing reparations, often citing legal and logistical complexities. Critics argue that today’s governments should not bear responsibility for the actions of their ancestors.
But for supporters like Brown, the issue is not about blame, it’s about repair. About acknowledging the systems of oppression that still echo today, from structural racism to unequal access to healthcare and education.
Iran has opened the first phase of its largest solar power plant as part of a major government programme to expand renewable energy capacity....
UK authorities have raised an amber heat health alert for much of southern England, warning that the ongoing heatwave could lead to a rise in deaths....
Floods driven by climate change are raising the danger of long-banned toxic chemicals resurfacing in rivers, soil, and food chains, according to a new...
A group of high-profile British political figures and commentators has threatened legal action to block the return of the Elgin Marbles to Greece, acc...
A rocket launched by Taiwanese company TiSpace from Japan's northern Hokkaido island failed shortly after takeoff on Saturday, falling short of its go...
Iran has opened the first phase of its largest solar power plant as part of a major government programme to expand renewable energy capacity.
UK authorities have raised an amber heat health alert for much of southern England, warning that the ongoing heatwave could lead to a rise in deaths.
A group of high-profile British political figures and commentators has threatened legal action to block the return of the Elgin Marbles to Greece, accusing the British Museum of engaging in secretive negotiations with Athens.
A rocket launched by Taiwanese company TiSpace from Japan's northern Hokkaido island failed shortly after takeoff on Saturday, falling short of its goal to become the first foreign firm to complete a successful launch from Japanese soil.
A series of earthquakes have struck Guatemala on Tuesday afternoon, leading authorities to advise residents to evacuate from buildings as a precaution against possible aftershocks.
A deadly mass shooting early on Monday (7 July) in Philadelphia's Grays Ferry neighbourhood left three men dead and nine others wounded, including teenagers, as more than 100 shots were fired.
Australian researchers have created a groundbreaking “biological AI” platform that could revolutionise drug discovery by rapidly evolving molecules within mammalian cells.
Dozens of international and domestic flights were cancelled or delayed after Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki erupted on Monday, but Bali’s main airport remains operational.
French member of parliament Olivier Marleix was found dead at his home on Monday, with suicide being considered a possible cause.
UK authorities have raised an amber heat health alert for much of southern England, warning that the ongoing heatwave could lead to a rise in deaths.
Floods driven by climate change are raising the danger of long-banned toxic chemicals resurfacing in rivers, soil, and food chains, according to a new UN Environment Programme (UNEP) report.
Israel is expected to submit a new withdrawal map today during ongoing ceasefire negotiations in Doha, Qatar, as talks face challenges over the size of the buffer zone around Gaza.
Widespread wildfires have engulfed the Alawenat Oasis in southwestern Libya, with flames spreading into residential areas and causing panic among local communities, according to state media.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has reaffirmed his “unconditional support” for all actions taken by Russia to resolve the Ukraine war, during a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, according to North Korean state media.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment