French President Emmanuel Macron has unveiled plans for France to establish a memorial site in 2027 dedicated to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and to commemorate the transatlantic slave trade.
Delivering a virtual address to the ongoing Next Steps Conference on Reparatory Justice in Accra, President Macron explained that the memorial would serve as a space for remembrance, education, and reflection on the history and legacy of slavery.
He stressed that the facility would be designed to ensure the experiences of enslaved peoples are remembered and transmitted to future generations, while deepening global understanding of human rights and historical justice.
“In 2027, France will inaugurate at Trocadero the place where the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted, a memorial dedicated to the victims of slavery,” he stated.
“France intends to fully participate in this work. A few days ago, we commemorated the 25th anniversary of this landmark law that I mentioned earlier, making France the first country in the world to officially recognise that the slave trade and slavery, which started in the 15th century against Africans, Ameridian, Malagasy, and Indian peoples, constituted a crime against humanity,” he added.
President Macron reaffirmed France’s commitment to international efforts addressing the legacy of the transatlantic slave trade and advancing global dialogue on reparatory justice.
His remarks follow the adoption of UN Resolution A/RES/80/250, a landmark decision three months ago that has intensified worldwide debate on slavery’s enduring consequences.
The Accra conference, convened under the auspices of President John Dramani Mahama, has brought together heads of state, policymakers, scholars, and civil society organisations to chart pathways toward reparatory justice and historical accountability.
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