By GB News (World News) | Created at 2026-09-20 05:45:53 | Updated at 2026-09-20 08:02:40
3 hours ago
Caribbean states are exploring plans to haul Britain before an international court in a bid to force the UK to pay slavery reparations.
Legal experts in the region are examining whether Britain could face a case under United Nations treaties covering racial discrimination, The Telegraph reports.
The potential action could see a state bring a case before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), arguing that Britain is breaching international obligations by refusing demands for reparations.
It comes as Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley steps up pressure for the campaign to move beyond political lobbying and towards potential legal action.
Ms Mottley told supporters at a reparations conference in Barbados that it was time to “stop being advocates in a movement, and start being advocates in a case”.
She added that campaigners could have an “in” with international courts.
The three-day Caricom Regional Conference on Reparations was held in Barbados from September 17 to 19, bringing together leaders and campaigners from across the Caribbean and beyond.
Caricom said the gathering would strengthen its reparations strategy and help develop an action plan for 2027 to 2031.
Ms Mottley told supporters it was time to 'stop being advocates in a movement, and start being advocates in a case'
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Its revised Ten-Point Plan includes demands for monetary compensation and debt cancellation alongside healthcare, education and other forms of redress.
Ms Mottley has also announced a technical committee tasked with developing economic evidence surrounding the impact of slavery on Barbados.
The Barbados Prime Minister insisted campaigners were not seeking to financially ruin countries targeted for reparations.
She said: “We have no desire to bankrupt anybody but we have a desire for justice.”
Campaigners argue the consequences of slavery continue to be felt through economic underdevelopment and racism
One possible legal avenue reportedly being examined centres on the UN International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.
Campaigners argue the consequences of slavery continue to be felt through economic underdevelopment, health inequalities and contemporary racism.
They could argue that Britain's refusal to provide redress therefore concerns an ongoing harm rather than solely events that took place centuries ago.
Britain abolished slavery across most of its empire in 1834.
Caribbean leaders are set to push reparations onto the agenda, with the King expected to attend the gathering
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Ms Mottley also suggested reparations could be delivered over generations rather than through a single cash settlement.
Pressure on Britain is expected to continue at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Antigua and Barbuda in November.
Caribbean leaders are set to push reparations onto the agenda, with the King expected to attend the gathering.
Downing Street has already rejected a separate reparations push from Jamaica after its Government lodged a petition with the King earlier this month.
A spokesman for Prime Minister Andy Burnham said: “The UK does not and will not pay reparations.
"The transatlantic slave trade was abhorrent, and of course it’s right that we acknowledge the wrongs of the past. But we continue to face forward and work with other countries on current shared challenges.”
