Abstention not a rejection of Ghana's slavery resolution - EU
The European Union (EU) has launched a diplomatic charm offensive to repair its image in West Africa following its refusal to back a landmark United Nations resolution on the Transatlantic Slave Trade. Rune Skinnebach, the EU's Head of Delegation to Ghana, clarified that the bloc's decision to abstain from the vote was a matter of procedural disagreement. The resolution officially labels the slave trade as the "gravest crime against humanity".
Ambassador Skinnebach revealed that while 123 countries, led by Ghana, pushed for the current text, the EU's attempts to shape the resolution were sidelined. He remarked, "We have been trying to engage constructively also in New York in the debate around this resolution. We have come up with a couple of suggestions; they have not been taken on board. This is fine." The EU purposely avoided voting "No", instead choosing abstention. Ambassador Skinnebach stated, "I understand the rules of the game but what I am saying is we did not vote against it. We abstained for very clear reasons. It does not mean, however, that we do not support the moral underpinnings of this resolution." He further pointed out that the EU is eager to address the "enduring scars" of the trade, provided the approach is collaborative and "forward-looking".
With Ghana's Foreign Ministry and the African Union now armed with a majority UN resolution, the pressure is mounting on Brussels to move beyond "moral support" and toward a tangible acknowledgement of the economic and social debt owed to the continent.
Quick Summary
The EU is trying to smooth things over in West Africa after not supporting a UN resolution on the Transatlantic Slave Trade- led by Ghana. The EU claims it wasn't a rejection of the resolution's intent, but what does this mean for Ghana?
Summary - read the full story for complete context.
Image: MyJoyOnline
GhanaFront aggregates news from trusted sources. Click to read the original article.
Keywords
Explore related tagsMore from MyJoyOnline
Related Stories
More from Politics
'Groundbreaking but an uphill struggle' - Amanda Clinton breaks down UN slavery resolution
Amanda Clinton examines the legal complexities of the UN resolution and whether reparations will ever materialize- or trickle down.
1h ago•
