UN Resolution – Official Response

“The Slavery Memorial Committee is deeply moved by the United Nations’ recognition of the transatlantic slave trade as the worst crime against humanity in history. For descendants and affected communities, the resolution affirms a historical reality that has been borne, voiced, and passed down for generations.

“The resolution makes it clear that the history of slavery is not behind us,” says Astrid Elburg, Chair of the Slavery Memorial Committee. “The recognition of this history is accompanied by historical awareness, moral clarity, and concrete steps toward redress. The fact that the Netherlands abstained from voting on this resolution is telling at a moment when the international community is affirming the gravity of this history. This calls for courage, not restraint.”

For the Memorial Committee, this resolution serves as a call to take further steps: in recognition, in historical awareness, and toward healing. Healing demands space for truth, for dignity, and for the voices of communities that have been marginalized for decades.

We remain committed to fostering a culture of remembrance that not only commemorates but also moves toward justice and toward a future in which the restoration of dignity is realized, including for future generations.”