United Nations urges Britain to erect statues honoring African descent

The United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) has issued guidance calling on nations involved in the transatlantic slave trade, including Britain, to address historical harms through reparatory justice.

The recommendations suggest that former slave-trading states have a moral and legal obligation to repair the damage caused. Proposed measures include the creation of public monuments, artworks, and statues that honor the contributions of people of African descent. The guidance also emphasizes the need for memorials that acknowledge the actions of individuals and institutions that benefited from historical atrocities.

Beyond physical monuments, the UN experts recommend broader actions to combat racial inequality and xenophobia. This includes stronger enforcement of hate speech laws and educational reforms, such as using school curricula to provide accurate, unbiased accounts of slavery and its aftermath. These proposals follow a March vote in which UN member states supported demands for reparations.