Judge’s Report Urges UK to Pay £18.8 Trillion Reparations for Historical Slave Trade

A United Nations judge has published a groundbreaking report asserting that the United Kingdom could be liable for a staggering £18.8 trillion ($24 trillion) in reparations for its involvement in the transatlantic slave trade across 14 countries.

Judge Patrick Robinson, a member of the International Court of Justice, co-authored the report that seeks to address the long-standing historical injustices related to the slave trade.**

Robinson emphasized that the proposed sum is an “underestimation” of the extensive damages inflicted by the slave trade and expressed his astonishment at certain nations attempting to evade their responsibility.

He underlined that once a state has engaged in wrongful acts, it is obligated to provide reparations. Robinson, notable for presiding over the trial of former Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic, drew together a team of economists, lawyers, and historians to compile the Brattle Group Report on Reparations for Transatlantic Chattel Slavery.

The comprehensive report calculates the total reparations to be paid by 31 former slaveholding nations, including Spain, the United States, and France, to amount to a staggering $107.8 trillion (£87.1 trillion).

The valuation is based on a thorough assessment of the five major harms inflicted by slavery, coupled with the accumulated wealth amassed by the nations involved in the trade.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan echoed the gravity of the situation, labeling the transatlantic slave trade as “the most degrading and prolonged act of human exploitation ever committed.”

He urged that acknowledging and addressing Britain’s significant role in this dark chapter of history is of utmost importance.

However, Khan also noted that the process of reparations involves more than just political entities; it requires the active engagement of the people as a whole.

Judge Robinson’s report is being seen as a groundbreaking step toward acknowledging and addressing the deep-seated historical injustices stemming from the transatlantic slave trade.

While the proposed reparations sum might be seen as astronomical, it is, according to Robinson, a reflection of the gravity of the damages inflicted and the need for comprehensive redress.

As discussions unfold, the world watches to see if nations will take responsibility for their historical actions and contribute to the healing process for affected communities.