this post was submitted on 26 Mar 2026
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[–] alekwithak@lemmy.world 42 points 3 weeks ago (33 children)

Are we condemning modern slave trades or just ones no one living can be held accountable for?

[–] sharkfucker420@lemmy.ml 44 points 3 weeks ago (7 children)

This is about reparations and thats the reason why the countries responsible abstained or voted against it.

Obviously most countries today condemn the modern slave trade. Doesn't mean they'll do anything about it but they do condemn it

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[–] TheTechnician27@lemmy.world 22 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (1 children)

Here's a press release from the resolution. The "Transatlantic Slave Trade" as a proper noun refers to the historical kidnapping and taking of Africans to the New World to be enslaved.

The resolution emphasised “the trafficking of enslaved Africans and racialised chattel enslavement of Africans as the gravest crime against humanity by reason of the definitive break in world history, scale, duration, systemic nature, brutality and enduring consequences that continue to structure the lives of all people through racialized regimes of labour, property and capital.”

It doesn't enforce reparations, but:

It affirmed the importance of addressing historical wrongs affecting Africans and people of the diaspora in a manner that promotes justice, human rights, dignity and healing, while emphasising that claims for reparations represent a concrete step towards remedy.

The US objected:

Furthermore [per the ambassador], the US “does not recognise a legal right to reparations for historical wrongs that were not illegal under international law at the time they occurred.”

I'll note for thoroughness' sake that it not having been illegal under international law is basically true but 1000% beside the point (obviously). The US Supreme Court actually heard cases in the early 1800s about how slavery was treated under e.g. the Law of Nations, but evidence was scant that it was prohibited, and the court more or less (oversimplifying) had to make shit up. The important point is that you can't say "Oh, well the perpetrarors collectively didn't prohibit it, so there are no grounds for reparations." It's obviously ridiculous.

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[–] BeatTakeshi@lemmy.world 36 points 3 weeks ago (10 children)

And Europe abstaining... Still very far from a reckoning

[–] kbobabob@lemmy.dbzer0.com 14 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

And Canada, and Japan, and Australia....

[–] orc_princess@lemmy.ml 10 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Those three also colonized and brutalized indigenous people

[–] Ravell@lemmy.ml 6 points 2 weeks ago

Still do, it's not past tense.

France still holds Haitians financially responsible for...refusing to be slaves over 200 years ago. Haiti has such a rough time now because the US and EU continue to punish the country for representing the only successful slave revolt.

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[–] Aria@lemmygrad.ml 34 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

In case it's too small to see, the third country that voted against is Israel.

[–] Thordros@hexbear.net 15 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

I still only see two real countries. isntrael

[–] Cowbee@lemmy.ml 11 points 3 weeks ago

The US Empire is a settler-colony, so it gets lumped in with Israel as such.

[–] Agent641@lemmy.world 17 points 3 weeks ago

The only Trans the US Govt approved of

[–] mlg@lemmy.world 14 points 3 weeks ago (4 children)

I know its the same ol map but the abstaining countries speaks a lot more to their current relationship with the US.

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[–] reddit_sux@lemmy.world 12 points 3 weeks ago (4 children)

I couldn't find the third country which voted against it, then I found the god's own people who were freed from slavery by god.

[–] Vinylraupe@lemmy.zip 12 points 3 weeks ago

I read 3 voted against so i instantly zoomed on Israel just to make sure.

[–] GiorgioPerlasca@lemmy.ml 10 points 2 weeks ago

Jewish Holy Scriptures are not against slavery at all. They go in large detail about how to treat the slaves.

Leviticus 25:44-46

“‘Your male and female slaves are to come from the nations around you; from them you may buy slaves. You may also buy some of the temporary residents living among you and members of their clans born in your country, and they will become your property. You can bequeath them to your children as inherited property and can make them slaves for life, but you must not rule over your fellow Israelites ruthlessly.

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Leviticus+25%3A44-46&version=NIV

[–] GuyIncognito@lemmy.ca 7 points 3 weeks ago

They aren't really for or against the African slave trade, but they take umbrage with anyone claiming October 7th and the thousands of beheaded babies wasn't the worst crime in human history

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[–] compast@lemmy.zip 10 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

USA and its satellite states - No/Abstained

Everyone else - Yes

Any surprises? No.

[–] theacharnian@lemmy.ca 9 points 3 weeks ago
[–] answersplease77@lemmy.world 8 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

let me guess... US Israel Argentina Ukriane

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[–] Zerush@lemmy.ml 8 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

US- No to slavery but yes to unpaid overtime or direct unpaid like now.

[–] Tiresia@slrpnk.net 10 points 3 weeks ago

And yes to slavery for millions of people imprisoned because cops lied about what they did.

[–] PolandIsAStateOfMind@lemmy.ml 6 points 2 weeks ago

US is afaik the only country which straight up enshrined slavery into its constitution.

[–] cypherpunks@lemmy.ml 8 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)
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[–] Twongo@lemmy.ml 7 points 3 weeks ago

Why does the "international community" either abstain or vote against? Also nice stance by the gulf states - the Kafala system is obviously not slavery ;)

[–] mrdown@lemmy.world 7 points 3 weeks ago

Abstaining is just a soft no. It is shameful that 53 countries did that

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