Francia Márquez Pushes for Global Reparations Fund at UN Forum
Colombia’s Vice President, Francia Márquez, stood before world leaders at a United Nations forum and made a strong demand. She called on former colonial powers to take full responsibility for the horrors of slavery by helping fund global reparations.
In her opening speech, Márquez proposed the creation of a global reparations fund. This fund would support efforts to fix the long-lasting harm caused by slavery and colonialism. “Colonial states… have to assume the responsibility of restoring the human dignity of people of African descent,” she said.
The Deep Impact of Slavery Still Lingers in Colombia
Between the 15th and 19th centuries, European ships transported over 10 million Africans across the Atlantic Ocean. Around 250,000 enslaved Africans were brought to Colombia. The effects of this brutal history are still seen today.
Márquez explained that many Afro-Colombians still lack access to basics like health care, housing, and education. “We continue to experience the damage and consequences of that system,” she shared during her speech.
Reparations Movement Gains Global Support
Márquez is not alone in her call for justice. Many leaders across Africa and the Caribbean have also demanded reparations. They argue that the economic wealth of former colonial powers came from the suffering and labor of enslaved Africans.
Critics of the reparations idea say today’s governments should not pay for past wrongs. But supporters believe the benefits from slavery are still present today, especially in global financial systems. They say reparations are about correcting historic injustices, not blaming individuals.
United Nations Forum Focuses on Reparatory Justice and AI
Márquez gave her speech at the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent (PFPAD), held in New York from April 14 to 17. This year’s theme was, “Africa and people of African descent: United for reparatory justice in the age of Artificial Intelligence.”
The forum also explored how new technologies like AI might worsen racial inequalities. UN Secretary-General António Guterres stressed that AI must be fair and unbiased. “Even AI, which holds such promise for humanity, too often mirrors and amplifies the same inequalities,” he said.
A Leader Rooted in Resilience and Representation
Francia Márquez’s voice carries special weight. She is Colombia’s first Black woman to serve as Vice President. Her rise from being a teenage mother and domestic worker to national leader is a story of grit and resilience.
She continues to speak boldly about racial justice, equality, and healing. Her latest call for reparations is not just about the past. It is about giving millions of people across the world a more just and equal future.
