The shadow of the transatlantic slave trade casts a long and dark history, with one of its most brutal and underexamined aspects now taking centre stage in global reparative justice discussions. A recent conference in Ghana has marked a significant shift in the international community's acknowledgment of gender-based violence against enslaved African women during this heinous period.
The event, 'Next Steps', was convened following the landmark UN resolution in March declaring the transatlantic slave trade as the gravest crime against humanity. The gathering saw the Caribbean Community (Caricom) unveil its updated 10-point plan, which for the first time explicitly demands compensation for the sexual violence suffered by enslaved women. Ghana's President, John Mahama, underscored the importance of this development, stating that 'the historical experiences of women and girls cannot remain footnotes in the global narrative'.
Professor Olivette Otele, a renowned expert on the legacies and memory of slavery at SOAS University of London, hailed the prominence given to this aspect of history. While historians have long explored this subject, its inclusion in the reparations debate is a welcome step towards acknowledging the trauma inflicted upon enslaved women. According to Caricom's plan, approximately 30% of the 20 million Africans forcibly transported across the Atlantic were women, with 1.2 million experiencing sexual violence. A 2023 report by Brattle on reparations for transatlantic chattel slavery suggested it was 'reasonable to assume that 100% of enslaved women over the age of 10 were subjected to sexual abuse by enslavers'.
The principle of 'partus sequitur ventrem', enshrined in law since 1662 in Virginia, a British colony at the time, further underscored the dehumanising nature of slavery. This legal framework rendered enslaved women as property, with children's status following that of their mothers. The devastating consequences continue to manifest today, particularly in issues such as misogynoir – prejudice and sexism directed at Black women – and the adultification of young Black girls.
The conference also highlighted the pivotal role played by Black women in resistance movements against enslavement and for liberation. Figures like Queen Nzinga of Ndongo (modern-day Angola), Solitude of Guadeloupe, Nanny of the Maroons in Jamaica, and Nanny Grigg in Barbados were celebrated as freedom fighters who spearheaded the fight for freedom.
The renewed focus on these aspects aims to rectify historical 'amnesia' surrounding both the extreme violence experienced by enslaved women and their significant contributions to the struggle for liberation. As discussions around reparations continue, it is essential that Britain, as one of the former colonial powers responsible for this heinous crime, acknowledges its complicity and contributes meaningfully to the process.
Source: The Guardian