According to EMM, Mr. Trk cautioned against a one-size-fits-all approach as reparatory justice should respond to the demands of affected communities. Initiatives and processes should be grounded in history and local context, respond to evolving demands of communities, and center the specific experiences of women of African descent in particular, he said. The report recommends that Africans and people of African descent must guide the design and implementation of these measures through meaningful, inclusive, and safe participation.
The report also highlights initiatives already underway. For example, some countries have reviewed public spaces to identify, remove, or contextualize statues and place names linked to persons who were involved in the transatlantic slave trade. Museums in several European countries are also taking steps to address their collections' links with the past. The restitution of cultural heritage is continuing, such as the return of so-called Benin bronzes—centuries-old sculptures, plaques, and other items looted from what is now Edo state in Nigeria.
Additionally, some academic institutions have carried out or funded external research into their own history, issued apologies, advanced educational opportunities for communities, and created memorials. Some business enterprises also have taken clear steps to acknowledge their links with the past. Claims for compensation have been lodged before courts in multiple jurisdictions, and associated legal arguments have bolstered wider public movements and fostered political pressure for change, the UN rights office added.
The report calls for further research and policy proposals on broader structural and systemic issues, including in the areas of climate and environmental justice, as well as reforms to address the shortcomings of development aid and international financial and governance architecture.