A UN committee has urged countries to adopt comprehensive reparations addressing the continuing effects of the transatlantic slave trade and racialised slavery. The committee argues that governments have present-day legal obligations to tackle systemic racism and inequalities linked to slavery, regardless of when those abuses occurred. Proposed measures include financial compensation, restitution, rehabilitation, official recognition and reforms intended to prevent continuing discrimination. Governments are encouraged to develop national action plans in consultation with affected communities and review laws that obstruct reparative justice. The committee also called on religious organisations, universities, companies, banks and insurers that participated in or profited from slavery to acknowledge their involvement and contribute appropriately. At least 12.5 million Africans were forcibly transported and sold between the 15th and 19th centuries. Reparations remain controversial, with continuing disagreement over whether present-day governments and institutions should bear responsibility for historical wrongdoing.