Commonwealth challenges UK: “Time has come” to talk reparations | Slavery

The UK government and prime minister suffered a diplomatic defeat at the Commonwealth this Saturday, the consequences of which are not yet fully known, but have the potential to change the way the country relates to the succession system of the British Empire.

Despite Keir Starmer’s protest and insistence, the issue of historical reparations – due to the role of the United Kingdom in the Atlantic seaboard of millions of slaves during the colonial period – was not on the agenda of the summit that ended this Saturday in Samoa, managed by Commonwealth leaders. to introduce Final report A couple of paragraphs from the event title, it says “the time has come” to formally begin this debate.

“Noting calls for discussions on restorative justice in relation to the transatlantic trade of enslaved Africans (…) and recognizing the importance of this subject to Commonwealth member states, most of which share common historical experiences with this abominable trade, slavery. The weakness and displacement of indigenous peoples, slavery, colonialism and ‘black tigerand its lasting effects [os chefes de Governo] Agreed that the time has come for a meaningful, honest and respectful dialogue to build a common future based on equity”, reads the document adopted at the end of the CHOGM, the biennial Commonwealth Heads of State Summit.

According to the statement, the heads of government of the organization’s 56 countries “agreed to continue to play an active role in holding inclusive discussions about these damages, paying special attention to women and girls who are disproportionately affected by these terrible tragedies in human history”.

Quoted by Reuters, Kingsley Abbott, professor and director of the Institute of Commonwealth Studies at the University of London, argues that the reference to “restorative justice” in the organization’s report “opens the door to negotiation” and has “historic” potential for unprecedented progress. In this case. “Now the hard work begins,” he warned.

Speaking to journalists in Abia at the end of the summit, Starmer explained that he “takes note of the calls for a debate” on restorative justice and “acknowledges that the time for this debate has come”, but insists that “” A relatively long statement” which “absolute priorities” is the fight against climate change and increasing economic ties between members.

And the Labor prime minister revealed that in the “two days” he was in Samoa, “there were no discussions about money”. “And our position on this is very, very clear,” he was quoted as saying Guardian.

Both before and after the CHOGM, despite appeals by members of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), British government officials insisted that the United Kingdom was not interested in discussing the issue at the summit. compensation for his part in the slave trade.

According to Reuters, between the 15th and 19th centuries, at least 3.5 million people were trafficked and sold as slaves by traders associated with the British Empire to most of the colonies in the Caribbean.

Some British institutions like Church of England, Lloyds Bank, University of Glasgow or newspaper Guardian They have already promised to pay compensation for their role in protecting or promoting those practices. The royal family authorized inquiries into the monarchy’s role in the Atlantic slave trade.

Speaking to the BBC on Thursday, Keir Starmer said the slave trade was “horrendous” and that it was necessary to “continue to talk” about the past and the history of the United Kingdom, but also to “look forward”. “Instead of looking back,” he insisted, “we cannot change our history” and move forward to “long and endless debates about reparations.”

With the final report of the CHOGM, the election of Shirley Ayorkor Botchwe as Commonwealth Secretary-General sends a clear signal that the issue of historical reparations must still be there from the majority of its members. Ghana’s current foreign minister also publicly advocated opening a formal dialogue on the matter within the organization.