UN Forum Calls for Increased Funding for Reparations Efforts, U.S. Urges Action on Racial Injustice

The United Nations forum on people of African descent opened its session in Geneva, Switzerland, with calls for increased funding to support its work and progress towards reparations for transatlantic slavery and its legacies. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres reiterated that racism was based on centuries of enslavement and colonialism, and said reparations should be part of efforts to tackle it.

U.S. representatives, including the Special Representative for Racial Equity and Justice, Desiree Cormier Smith, acknowledged the need to confront the country's past of "profound racial injustice" stemming from the enslavement and colonialism of African people. A Howard University law professor, representing the U.S. at the forum, urged the U.N. to provide more financial support for reparations, emphasizing the need for action.

The Restitution Study Group, led by Queen Mother Delois Blakely (African American) and Antonio Isuperio (Brazilian architect and human rights advocate), delivered a compelling statement at the UN, urging action on the ownership and management of the Benin bronzes, which are valued at $30 billion and are relics of the slave trade.

Why this matters: The calls for reparations at the UN forum highlight the ongoing global efforts to address the historical injustices and systemic racism faced by people of African descent. As momentum builds for reparations in the U.S. and other nations, increased funding and action from international organizations like the UN could play a crucial role in supporting these initiatives and promoting racial equity.

The World Council of Churches (WCC), a global fellowship of 352 churches representing over 500 million Christians, hosted a pre-sessional event on April 15, 2024, to discuss the lived experiences of Africans and People of African Descent. The WCC expressed disappointment that interpersonal racial prejudices, discrimination, and systemic racism continue to be major obstacles to the lives and dignity of People of African Descent. They called for increased funding for reparations efforts and meaningful participation of Africans and People of African Descent in decision-making processes.

Dr. June Soomer of St. Lucia, the newly appointed Chair of the Permanent Forum, has pledged to "relentlessly advocate for reparations" and ensure that the people of African descent are not "quiet", "invisible", or "disappear". The involvement of Caribbean nations and indigenous communities in the reparations efforts is seen as crucial, as the region has suffered greatly from the transatlantic slave trade, genocide of indigenous people, and colonialism.

Key Takeaways

• UN forum calls for increased funding for reparations for transatlantic slavery
• US acknowledges need to confront its history of racial injustice from enslavement
• Restitution Study Group urges action on Benin bronzes, valued at $30 billion
• WCC expresses disappointment at ongoing racism, calls for reparations funding
• Chair of Permanent Forum pledges to advocate relentlessly for reparations