Will the UN resolution on slavery lead to more development aid and even reparations? FVD submits parliamentary questions

26 March 2026

Tom Russcher and Ralf Dekker today submitted written questions to the Minister of Foreign Affairs regarding the UN resolution, in which the transatlantic slave trade is described as “the gravest crime against humanity”. The resolution was adopted after almost all African, Middle Eastern and Asian countries voted in favour. The Netherlands, like many other European countries, abstained. Only Israel, Argentina and the United States voted against.

Creating a hierarchy of historical crimes is concerning and may have far-reaching consequences for the interpretation of history. At present, it is still unclear what the legal and financial implications will be. However, the adopted resolution undeniably provides the Global South with political backing when it comes to matters such as reparations. The position of Forum for Democracy is clear: no further development aid, no reparations, and no oikophobic approach to history.

The written questions from FVD MPs Tom Russcher and Ralf Dekker can be found below.

Questions from the Tom Russcher (FVD) and the Ralf Dekker (FVD) to the Minister of Foreign Affairs regarding the UN resolution on the transatlantic slave trade:

• Are you aware of the UN resolution that designates the transatlantic slave trade as “the gravest crime against humanity” ever?
• Can you explain why the Netherlands abstained from voting rather than voting against?
• Do you share the view that creating a hierarchy of historical atrocities is undesirable? If not, why not? If so, why did the Netherlands not vote against?
• Do you agree that numerous other atrocities are implicitly downplayed by this resolution? If not, why not? If so, why did the Netherlands not vote against?
• How will you ensure that this resolution does not in any way lead to financial obligations for the Netherlands?
• Do you acknowledge that international law at the time of the slave trade did not prohibit slavery, and that retroactive application of modern standards is legally untenable? If not, why not?
• Do you agree that there is no right to reparations for actions that were not illegal under international law at the time? If not, why not?
• How do you assess the call in the resolution to engage in dialogue on reparations for descendants of enslaved people?
• Can you rule out that the Netherlands will, under pressure from this resolution, move towards reparations in the future, in any form?
• Are you prepared to reconsider the previously issued apologies for the slavery past, now that these are being used as leverage for financial claims? If not, why not?
• Do you agree that the apologies offered by Prime Minister Rutte in 2022 and King Willem-Alexander in 2023 have proven to be a strategic mistake, as they have opened the door to further demands?
• Do you believe that modern Dutch citizens bear responsibility for actions that took place centuries ago?
• Are you aware of the historical phenomenon of white slavery in Arab and North African countries, including the so-called Barbary slave trade in which an estimated more than one million Europeans were captured and enslaved, and do you agree that singling out European countries as perpetrators presents an incomplete and misleading picture of history?
• Do you consider it fair that current generations of Dutch taxpayers are held financially liable for historical events in which they had no part?
• Why does this resolution focus exclusively on the transatlantic slave trade and not on the Arab slave trade, which lasted longer and is estimated to have claimed as many or more victims?
• Did the Netherlands, during deliberations in the General Assembly, draw attention to slavery that still exists today in parts of Africa and the Middle East?
• Do you agree that it is hypocritical for countries where modern slavery still occurs to be co-sponsors of a resolution on historical slavery, especially given that at the time these countries actively sold their own people to traders from around the world?
• How does this resolution relate to the fact that the Netherlands was one of the first countries to abolish slavery?
• Do you consider it appropriate to continue providing development aid to countries that simultaneously demand reparations from the Netherlands?
• Can the minister confirm that slavery was a global phenomenon that existed in virtually all civilisations, and that selectively pointing to Western European countries creates a distorted historical narrative?
• Do you agree that the Dutch people do not benefit from a persistent culture of guilt over historical events?