WorldStage– The African Regional Organisation of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC-Africa) has commended growing international support for reparations and debt relief to address historical injustices against Africa.
A statement by the General Secretary of ITUC-Africa, Mr Akhator-Joel Odigie, on Monday in Abuja described the framework as a historic milestone in the long struggle for justice, dignity and redress for slavery, colonialism, apartheid and the continued exploitation of Africa.
The commendation followed the adoption of the Global Framework for Reparatory Justice at the High-Level ‘Next Steps’ Conference held recently in Accra, Ghana.
Odigie said the adoption of the 19-point framework reflected growing global recognition that historical injustices require concrete remedies beyond acknowledgement and symbolic gestures.
“The framework marks a historic milestone in the long struggle for justice, dignity and redress for the crimes of slavery, colonialism, apartheid and continued exploitation,” he said.
According to him, reparatory justice is not only about addressing the past but also confronting present realities of structural inequality, underdevelopment and economic dependency affecting African workers.
“The wealth extracted through slavery and colonialism helped build prosperity for some nations while entrenching poverty, exclusion and inequality across Africa and among people of African descent,” he said.
Odigie said ITUC-Africa supported calls for formal apologies, restitution of cultural heritage, equitable compensation, debt relief and institutional reforms aimed at advancing justice and accountability.
He urged governments, international institutions, employers and social partners to engage constructively in implementing the framework, stressing that reparatory justice remained essential to economic democracy and sustainable development.
“The time has come for the international community to move from recognition to action and ensure the meaningful implementation of commitments contained in the Global Framework for Reparatory Justice,” he said.
