Africa and the Caribbean have coalesced to tackle an age-old matter: reparations for slavery, humiliation, and injustice. They lead the call together. Leaders and activists from both regions have come together to organise the founding of a tribunal concerning slavery and, thus, to tackle the immense legacy of these tragic events that continue to affect our present day.
The initiative was launched virtually, and the focus was on the joined effort as we sought justice and compensation for the sufferings of the dreadful enslavement. Among the fundamental objectives of the tribunal is the establishment of an open dialogue, which enables the society to realise that slavery has shaped human lives on both collective and individual levels. At the same time, reparations are viewed as a path of reconciliation and resolving historical wrongs.
Through creating this alliance, Africa and the Caribbean claim to raise the volume of their voices on the global scene, where they can rightfully demand the recognition and accountability of the immense catastrophe that resulted in millions of African people being raided from their homelands and transported to the African continent. The tribunal shall offer a panel to the survivors and the descendants of slavery for the victims to share their experiences, hence the rise of the feeling of fellowship and the understanding of the preponderance of reparations.
Proponents of this court claim that reparations are not only about money compensation while explaining that they mean more. They influence policies that start in classrooms and schools and go through sports, cultural arts, and economic empowerment programs to address the systemic inequalities, entrenched since the pre-colonial time.
The reparations demand has gathered momentum in recent years, with higher awareness and involvement in slavery’s heritage education and discussion. Although many things have been done at the national and regional level, this same-page initiative, which signifies a huge leap in the process toward justice and healing, is the most significant ever.
The creation of the slavery tribunal is a milestone for African and Caribbean countries alike, signifying the coming together of these regions to temporarily seek appropriate justice for their ancestors and forever strive for a fair world characterized by equality.
