Ending Racism Against Africans Requires Reparatory Justice

Governments, academic institutions and other stakeholders must step up efforts to deliver reparatory justice for people of African descent if systemic racism rooted in slavery and colonialism is to be dismantled, the UN human rights office (OHCHR) said on Wednesday.

In a new report, OHCHR outlined that reparatory justice should include formal apologies, truth-seeking, memorialisation, education measures, medical and psychosocial support, as well as financial compensation.

“States and other actors must implement a comprehensive approach that includes reparations in various forms,” said UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk. “To be truly effective, this approach must consider the web of links between the past and the present in all areas of life, in order to dismantle unjust structures and systems designed and shaped by the past.”

The report stressed that reparatory initiatives must reflect the needs of affected communities, avoid a “one-size-fits-all” model, and particularly centre the experiences of women of African descent. It recommended inclusive participation of Africans and their descendants in designing and implementing such measures.

Examples of action already underway include the removal or contextualisation of monuments linked to the transatlantic slave trade, restitution of cultural heritage such as the “Benin bronzes,” and initiatives by universities and museums to examine their historical ties to slavery. Some businesses have also acknowledged their links to the trade, while compensation claims have been lodged in courts across multiple jurisdictions.

OHCHR said more research and policy work is needed on structural issues, including climate and environmental justice, and reforms to international aid, finance and governance systems.