Statement by Ms. Marion Crepet, Legal Advisor, Permanent Mission of the Principality of Liechtenstein to the United Nations
General Assembly, Declaration of the Trafficking of Enslaved Africans and Racialised Chattel
Enslavement of Africans as the Gravest Crime Against Humanity (UNDOTEA), Explanation of Vote
25 March 2026

Liechtenstein delivers this joint explanation of vote on behalf of Iceland, Liechtenstein and
Switzerland.

At the outset, we underline the importance of the International Day of Remembrance of the
Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade and commend efforts to ensure that the
profound suffering caused by the trafficking of enslaved Africans is neither forgotten nor
diminished. To address the enduring consequences of slavery crimes, Liechtenstein launched the
Finance Against Slavery and Trafficking initiative to combat modern slavery and human
trafficking.

Against this background, the process leading to the adoption of this Declaration is unfortunately
a missed opportunity to broaden consensus and recognize the unprecedented nature of these
crimes. We believe that more time and meaningful negotiations were needed to galvanize further
support. Although we stressed our intention to support the spirit of this initiative, we, alongside
others, raised concerns about inconsistencies of the Declaration with international law. In
particular, the qualification of the transatlantic slave trade as “the gravest crime against
humanity” has no basis in international law and risks undermining the Rome Statute protecting
civilian populations not only against enslavement, but also against other equally atrocious crimes
against humanity.

This is all the more regrettable as discussions on the inclusion of slavery crimes in the definition
of crimes against humanity are taking place both as part of the effort to draft a Convention on
the Prevention and Punishment of Crimes Against Humanity and within the framework of the
Rome Statute. These discussions are essential to guarantee that such atrocities are not repeated
and that modern forms of slavery do not go unpunished.

For these reasons, while we strongly support the underlying objective of recognition, we were unfortunately not in a position to vote in favor of the resolution as adopted. We remain committed to engaging constructively and support the remembrance of the transatlantic slave trade consistent with international law.

I thank you.