An example of this approach , and that serves as a base to define the object of study , is the report issued in 2019 by the United Nations Special Rapporteur about the contemporary forms of racism , xenophobia and intolerance which “ addresses the human rights obligations of Member States in relation to the reparations for racial discrimination rooted in slavery and colonialism ” ( report A / 74 / 321 ), recalling that “ the historical racial injustices of slavery and colonialism remain unaddressed today , but nevertheless , require redress , compensation , satisfaction , rehabilitation and guarantees of non-repetition ” [ 4 ]. That same year the EU passed a similar resolution on the “ Fundamental rights of people of African descent ” which , among other aspects :
Recalls that some Member States have taken steps toward meaningful and effective redress for past injustices and crimes against humanity - bearing in mind their lasting impacts in the present - against people of African descent .
(…) Calls for the EU institutions and the remainder of the Member States to follow this example , which may include some form of reparations such as offering public apologies and the restitution of stolen artefacts to their countries of origin .[ 5 ]
This legal framework is fundamental to understand the approach of colonial reparation , which requires the implementation of policies of memory , which are integrated into various models of transitional justice . Demands for reparation , as indicated by Joan Scott ( 2019 ), have a rich lineage , although their consideration in the legal and political realm of States is relatively recent . These broad legislative frameworks interact with actions that are being carried out in the European context , such as patrimonial restitutions , public apologies , financial compensation , decolonisation of the public space and modifications in curricula , among other initiatives . There is no database that documents them comprehensively , although the Colonialism Reparation [ 1 ] initiative gathers a considerable volume of them .[ 6 ]
[ `4 ] UN , Contemporary forms of racism , racial discrimination , xenophobia and related forms of intolerance , report A / 74 / 321 , of 21 August 2019 . https :// documents-ddsny . un . org / doc / UNDOC / GEN / N19 / 259 / 41 / PDF / N1925941 . pdf ? OpenElement [ 5 ] European Parliament , resolution 2018 / 2899 , on the fundamental rights of people of African descent in Europe , of 26 March 2019 . https :// www . europarl . europa . eu / doceo / document / TA-8- 2019-0239 _ ES . html [ 6 ] See : https :// www . colonialismreparation . org / es /
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