"Reparatory justice will not be handed to us. Like political independence, it must be asserted, pursued and secured through determination and unity."
H.E. John Dramani
Mahama
President of the Republic of Ghana
AFRICAN UNION CHAMPION ON ADVANCING THE CAUSE OF JUSTICE AND PAYMENT OF REPARATIONS
Background & Context
A Historic Turning Point for Africans and People of African Descent
On 25 March 2026, the United Nations General Assembly adopted resolution A/RES/80/250 - the first resolution in the UN's 80-year history dedicated exclusively to slavery and the transatlantic slave trade, passed by 123 votes.
The resolution declares the trafficking of enslaved Africans and racialised chattel enslavement as the gravest crime against humanity, calling for good faith dialogue on reparatory justice and the prompt restitution of cultural properties.
Coming 25 years after the Durban Declaration, it marks a fundamental departure from commemorative gestures - replacing them with the pursuit of historical truth, reconciliation, and systemic justice.
123 Votes in Favour
An unprecedented international consensus affirming the gravity of the transatlantic slave trade and its enduring consequences.
First of Its Kind
The first UN General Assembly resolution in 80 years mandating comprehensive action on slavery and its lasting legacies.
Restitution Mandate
Calls for prompt, unhindered restitution of cultural properties, artefacts, manuscripts, and national archives to countries of origin without charge.
Global Reparations Framework
Sets the tone for a unified reparations framework to advance historical justice and implement systemic reforms worldwide.
Programme
Three days of Deliberation, Declaration & Deliverables.
A structured, high-level agenda moving from Technical Expert deliberations to Heads of State endorsement and a historic Juneteenth observance at Christiansborg Castle.
Objectives & Expected Outcomes
What the Conference Aims to Achieve
Structured around five core objectives, the conference will transform political momentum into a common concrete institutional commitment for reparatory justice.
Collective Reflection & Dialogue
A platform for in-depth reflection on the resolution's implications for Africans and People of African Descent across regions and generations.
Global Post-Adoption Framework
Address fragmentation by formulating a coherent, structured Global Post-Adoption Framework to advance the resolution's objectives worldwide.
Conference Report
Generate a comprehensive outcome document serving as additional input for the UN Secretary-General's report to the 82nd General Assembly Session.
Three Global Panels
Establish the Advisory Panel on Reparatory Justice, Expert Panel on Restitution of Cultural Artefacts, and Legal Panel for Reparatory Justice.
Annual Consultative Forum
Institutionalise a cross-regional high-level Consultative Forum on Reparations to sustain political momentum and accountability.
Global Panels
Three New International Bodies
The conference will establish three global panels with appointed members and Terms of Reference to operationalise the resolution's mandate.
Advisory Panel on Reparatory Justice
Cross-regional advisors guiding the global reparations framework and its implementation.
Expert Panel on Restitution of Cultural Artefacts
Specialists overseeing the restitution of cultural property, manuscripts, and national archives.
Legal Panel for Reparatory Justice
Jurists and legal experts developing the legal architecture for international reparations claims.
Venues
Three Significant Locations
The conference unfolds across three venues, each chosen for its historical and symbolic significance to Ghana, Africa, and the global reparations movement.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ghana's seat of diplomatic engagement hosts the Senior Officials' Meeting, where the Global Post-Adoption Framework will be formulated in preparation for the high-level conference.
Kempinski Hotel Gold Coast City
A premier venue for Africa's most consequential diplomatic gatherings, hosting the Heads of State session where the Global Post-Adoption Framework will be endorsed by consensus.
Christiansborg Castle
Christiansborg Castle, also known as Osu Castle, is a historic 17th-century fortress in Osu, Accra, Ghana, located on the Atlantic coast. Built by the Danish in 1661, it served as a slave trade hub, later a colonial seat for Denmark and Britain. The castle remains central to understanding the scale and brutality of the trade, honouring millions forcibly transported across the Atlantic.
Participation
Who Will Attend
The conference convenes a broad multi-stakeholder dialogue - bringing together governments, international organisations, diaspora representatives, legal experts, civil society, and scholars in a unified call to action.
Heads of State & Government
Invited leaders and their delegations from across Africa, the Caribbean, and diaspora nations.
- Invited Member States
- African Union Heads of State
- CARICOM Heads of Government
International Organisations
Multilateral bodies with a direct mandate on human rights, development, and reparatory justice.
- United Nations representatives
- UNESCO & UNDP
- African Union
- OAS & CELAC
- CARICOM Reparations Commission
Legislative & Civil Society
Parliamentarians, diaspora advocates, and civil society organisations driving policy change.
- Congressional Black Caucus
- NAACP representatives
- Civil society organisations
- Activists & diaspora representatives
Experts & Academics
Legal scholars, historians, and researchers providing the intellectual architecture for reparations frameworks.
- Academic scholars
- Legal experts & jurists
- Researchers
Register to Attend
Participation is by invitation. Complete the registration form to express interest and confirm attendance. Additional information will be communicated upon confirmation by the Secretariat.
Photo Gallery
The Journey to Reparative Justice
Resource Library
Official Documents & Working Papers
A/RES/80/250 - Trafficking of Enslaved Africans and Racialised Chattel Enslavement
The landmark UN General Assembly resolution adopted 25 March 2026 by 123 votes - the first in 80 years dedicated exclusively to the transatlantic slave trade, its legacy, and the pursuit of reparatory justice.
Contact
Send Us an Inquiry
For general enquiries, media accreditation, delegation logistics, or partnership opportunities, please complete the form and the Conference Secretariat will respond within 48 Hours.
General Enquiries
reparations@mfa.gov.gh
Media Accreditation
m.reparations@mfa.gov.gh