EL-Orabi Commends UN Call to Strengthen Reparative Justice for Africans: A Historic Step Reflecting Renewed Awareness of Moral Responsibility
Cairo: September 8, 2025
His Excellency Ambassador Mohamed EL-Orabi, President of the Organization for African Peoples’ Solidarity and former Foreign Minister of Egypt, praised the call issued by the United Nations Office for Human Rights to states and global actors to redouble efforts in the field of reparative justice for Africans and people of African descent, describing it as “a historic step on the path to redressing peoples who paid the price of slavery and colonialism over long centuries.”
EL-Orabi commended the practical measures included in the UN call, such as official apologies, truth-telling, commemoration, medical and psychological support, and compensation. He considered these mechanisms as ones that “open the door to a fundamental remedy of the historical injustice suffered by Africans and their descendants, and lay the foundation for a new global path based on justice and fairness.”
He affirmed that the Organization for African Peoples’ Solidarity strongly supports this UN initiative, noting that “reparative justice is not merely a way of addressing a dark past, but also an investment in a more just and equal future. The world cannot move forward while the legacies of colonialism and slavery remain present in the memory and reality of peoples.”
EL-Orabi added that the call of the Office of Human Rights “reflects a renewed awareness of the moral and legal responsibility of the international community,” urging African states to unite in order to transform these principles into tangible political and economic commitments. He also called on international and regional institutions to engage in this process through supporting development programs, capacity building, and the preservation of historical memory.
In the same context, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk stressed that “systemic racism is deeply rooted in the legacy of the past,” emphasizing that reparative justice requires a comprehensive approach that ensures multiple forms of compensation. He explained that this process should link the past with the present, dismantle the unjust systems left by colonial history, and give special attention to the experiences of women of African descent.
Involving Communities in Shaping Solutions
The UN report highlighted the importance of ensuring that Africans and people of African descent play a central role in designing and implementing reparative justice measures, guaranteeing inclusive, safe, and effective participation. It also urged states to acknowledge the harms caused by colonialism and slavery, and to renew their commitment to combating racial injustice and advancing pathways of justice.
A Renewed Call for a Just Future
Concluding his remarks, EL-Orabi stressed that “acknowledging the crimes of the past is not an end in itself, but a means to build a future founded on equality and human dignity.” He added that “achieving reparative justice will have a profound impact on healing historical wounds and strengthening trust among peoples, thereby consolidating the principles of human solidarity that represent the core mission of the United Nations.”