Growing calls for Britain to confront its colonial past and consider reparations for slavery are sparking national debate. Discover the key arguments and voices demanding accountability and justice.
There is increasing pressure on Britain to address its involvement in the transatlantic slave trade by providing reparatory justice.
During its peak in the 1700s, millions of Africans were forcibly transported to British colonies in the Americas and the Caribbean, as well as other countries, where they were sold into slavery.
Leaders from the Commonwealth, a group comprising 56 nations mostly linked to Britain’s former empire, are convening in Samoa in the South Pacific.
Although the summit will include discussions on climate change, there are also intentions to address reparations. This is despite British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer stating that the issue was not part of the agenda.
According to diplomatic sources, discussions are currently taking place regarding an agreement to investigate the matter.
Britain has yet to issue an apology for its historical ties to slavery, and it is believed that reparations might potentially amount to trillions of pounds.
The topic of reparations for slavery has been a persistent issue, but it has recently gained increased momentum worldwide.
While critics argue that nations shouldn’t be accountable for past injustices, supporters of reparations view current racial inequalities as a legacy of slavery.
The three candidates vying to become the next Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, hailing from Ghana, Lesotho, and Gambia, have all advocated for financial reparations.
