The resolution passed with 123 votes in favor, three against including the United States and Israel and 52 abstentions, including the European Union and Britain. While not legally binding, the measure carries political significance and reflects growing international pressure to address the legacy of slavery.

Ghana said the initiative was necessary to confront the enduring consequences of the transatlantic slave trade, which forcibly displaced at least 12.5 million Africans between the 15th and 19th centuries and continues to shape racial and economic disparities.

Foreign Minister Samuel Ablakwa said the resolution seeks accountability for historical injustices and could help lay the groundwork for a broader reparative framework.

The measure calls on member states to engage in dialogue on reparations, including formal apologies, financial compensation, the return of cultural artifacts, and guarantees of non-repetition.

The United States and European representatives raised concerns that the resolution could create a hierarchy among crimes against humanity or apply international law retroactively. U.S. representative Dan Negrea criticized what he described as the use of historical injustices to justify contemporary resource redistribution.

An EU representative said the bloc acknowledged the scale of the atrocity but cited “legal and factual” concerns in its decision to abstain.Growing global momentumUN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told the assembly that more decisive action was needed globally to address historical injustices.

The resolution follows efforts by the African Union to develop a unified position on reparations among its member states.

Legal experts said the vote marks the furthest the UN has gone in formally recognizing transatlantic slavery as a crime against humanity and advancing calls for reparations, signaling increasing momentum behind the issue despite resistance from Western nations.

Speaking at UN headquarters, Guterres said the conflict had exceeded even worst-case expectations, warning of a potential global catastrophe if fighting continues.

He reiterated that diplomacy and adherence to international law remain the only viable path to de-escalation.

Guterres urged Tehran to stop strikes against regional states, noting that the United Nations Security Council has already condemned such actions and demanded their cessation. He also stressed the importance of safeguarding navigation rights in critical waterways, including the Strait of Hormuz.

He called on Washington and Israel to bring the war to an end, citing rising civilian casualties and intensifying humanitarian and economic consequences. “This has gone too far,” he said, warning against further escalation.

The UN chief said the prolonged disruption of maritime routes, particularly through the Strait of Hormuz, is constraining the flow of oil, gas and fertilizers at a crucial time for global agriculture, amplifying economic shocks and threatening food security.

He warned that the conflict’s repercussions are disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations, with humanitarian operations under increasing strain as violence spreads across multiple fronts.

Referring to his recent visit to Lebanon, Guterres cautioned against further deterioration there, calling on Hezbollah to halt attacks into Israel and urging Israel to stop strikes in Lebanese territory.

He warned that the humanitarian crisis seen in Gaza must not be repeated in Lebanon.Guterres said he remains engaged with regional and international stakeholders and announced the appointment of Jean Arnault as his personal envoy to coordinate diplomatic efforts related to the conflict and its broader consequences.

He emphasized that ending the war remains the most effective way to mitigate global disruption, reiterating that “peace is the way out.”