UK public calls for formal apology over transatlantic slavery- research
In a recent research conducted by The Repair Campaign, findings reveal a substantial demand among UK citizens for formal apologies and reparations for the Caribbean nations and descendants of enslaved people affected by transatlantic chattel slavery.
The survey, conducted across England, Scotland, and Wales in February 2024, sheds light on the growing awareness and support for reparatory justice initiatives.
Strong backing for reparations
According to The Repair Campaign’s research, three in five individuals in the UK advocate for a formal apology, with more than half asserting that it should originate from either the UK Government or organizations historically linked to profiting from Caribbean slavery.
Moreover, the survey indicates that a significant portion—four in ten respondents—believe that financial compensation should be provided to Caribbean nations as a means of redressing the enduring impacts of slavery and colonialism.
Denis O’Brien champions reparatory justice
Denis O’Brien, the driving force behind The Repair Campaign, emphasizes the pivotal role of an apology in addressing historical injustices.
O’Brien underscores the culmination of years of advocacy efforts, heralding the current debates surrounding reparations as a triumph. He stresses the necessity for acknowledgment from the Government and Monarchy, highlighting the economic foundations of the UK's wealth rooted in centuries of slavery.
Laura Trevelyan and the quest for justice
Laura Trevelyan, trustee of the Trevelyan Grenada Reparations Fund and Honorary Associate Fellow at the PJ Patterson Institute, commends the survey’s findings as a significant step forward in the reparatory justice movement.
She underscores the urgency of the next decade in securing justice for descendants of enslaved Africans, urging intensified efforts to confront the legacies of slavery.
Professor Verene Shepherd calls for accountability
Professor Verene Shepherd, director of the Centre for Reparation Research (CRR) at The University of the West Indies, echoes the sentiments of the survey findings, emphasizing the imperative for accountability from former colonial powers.
She urges unambiguous apologies and the implementation of comprehensive reparations plans, citing the Caricom Ten Point Plan as a framework for addressing historical wrongs.
UN International Day: A call for action
March 25, 2024, observed as the UN International Day to commemorate victims of transatlantic trafficking and chattel enslavement, the CRR underscores the urgency for substantive action.
Professor Shepherd implores Britain and other colonial powers to confront their historical roles, issuing unequivocal apologies and committing to restitution as outlined in the Caricom Ten Point Plan.
The survey, commissioned by The Repair Campaign and conducted by Walnut Omnibus, encompassed a nationally representative sample of 2016 adults across Great Britain between February 16-19, 2024.
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