As Commonwealth heads of government convene in Samoa for their biennial meeting, a pressing issue looms large: the growing calls for the United Kingdom to confront its colonial past and the enduring impacts of slavery. Nations from the Caribbean and Africa, along with campaigners and MPs, are urging Britain to open the door to reparatory justice not only for the atrocities of slavery and colonialism but also for the worsening effects of the climate crisis.
A Debt Owed
Last year, UN judge Patrick Robinson concluded that the UK owes more than £18 trillion in reparations for its historical involvement in slavery across 14 countries. Despite this staggering figure, the issue of reparations is conspicuously absent from the official agenda at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).
The reparations movement argues that the generational impacts of crimes against humanity perpetrated during the era of slavery and colonialism have been compounded by modern-day systems of debt that favor Western interests. These injustices are further exacerbated by the devastating effects of climate change, with extreme weather events disproportionately affecting nations whose carbon footprints pale in comparison to those of wealthy, industrialized countries.
A United Front
The demands for reparatory justice extend beyond the Commonwealth. The African Union, representing nations colonized by various European powers, has joined forces with the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) to pressure former slave-owning nations to engage with the reparations movement. CARICOM has developed a comprehensive 10-point plan for reparatory justice, which serves as a blueprint for addressing the lingering harms of slavery and colonialism.
The Power of an Apology
While some British institutions, such as the Church of England and the Bank of England, have apologized for their links to slavery, the UK government has yet to issue a formal apology. King Charles III has acknowledged the need to confront the past, describing slavery as an “appalling atrocity,” but has stopped short of apologizing on behalf of the nation.
“An apology is free,” states Bell Ribeiro-Addy MP, chair of the all-party parliamentary group for Afrikan reparations. “The way in which we are not willing to apologise for one of the worst crimes in humanity speaks volumes.”
Beyond Financial Compensation
Experts and campaigners emphasize that reparations encompass much more than monetary compensation. They call for a multifaceted approach that includes debt cancellation, climate resilience measures, the return of cultural artifacts, and targeted investments in education, healthcare, and economic development.
“Reparation should look at the fact that colonialism has taken out so much resource from the region,” explains reparations researcher Washington Alcott. “For diaspora communities, reparation should tackle health. I would like to see serious investment in care facilities for older diaspora people.”
Engaging with Affected Communities
Clive Baldwin, a senior legal adviser at Human Rights Watch, stresses the importance of engaging directly with the people affected by the legacies of slavery and colonialism. He points to the UK’s recent agreement to return the Chagos Islands to Mauritius as an example of how reparatory justice can be achieved through meaningful dialogue and a commitment to addressing past wrongs.
Confronting Structural Racism
For many, the call for reparations is inextricably linked to the ongoing struggle against structural racism in Britain. Clive Lewis MP, host of the Heirs of Enslavement podcast, questions the sincerity of efforts to build a fairer society without first acknowledging and apologizing for the nation’s role in the slave trade.
“If you’re not going to deal with the very cause of the structural racism in the most basic way, by an apology, then is it any more than window-dressing that you say we’re going to build a fairer Britain for black people?” Lewis asks.
The Road Ahead
As the Commonwealth summit unfolds, the pressure on the UK to confront its past and chart a new course for the future continues to mount. Campaigners vow to persist in their fight for reparatory justice, emphasizing that the struggle is far from over.
“When you’re trying to have a conversation with someone who knows they’re guilty and won’t listen, we know that we have an extended fight on our hands,” asserts Ngozi Fulani, founder of the domestic abuse charity Sistah Space. “They should know this: we will not stop our fight for reparations.”
The path forward may be complex and fraught with challenges, but for the nations and communities scarred by slavery and colonialism, the demand for reparations is a clarion call for justice that can no longer be ignored. As the Commonwealth grapples with its shared history and the urgent crises of the present, the question remains: will Britain rise to the occasion and begin the difficult but necessary work of reparation and reconciliation?
