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MercoPress, en Español

Montevideo, June 13th 2026 - 12:26 UTC

Tag: slavery

  • Tuesday, May 26th 2026 - 14:21 UTC

    Leo XIV calls for “disarming” artificial intelligence in first encyclical, links it to historical slavery

    He condemned the development of autonomous weapons and the growing delegation of human control over arms, arguing that it reduces the possibilities of qualifying a war as “just”

    Pope Leo XIV on Monday published the first major doctrinal document of his pontificate, an encyclical titled Magnifica Humanitas in which he calls for “disarming” artificial intelligence, warns of its risks to humanity, and delivers one of the most complete and firm apologies from the Vatican for the Catholic Church's historical role in slavery. “The word is strong, I know, but it has been chosen deliberately because this moment demands words capable of capturing attention,” the pontiff said during the presentation of the text at the Vatican, as reported by the BBC.

  • Friday, April 18th 2025 - 10:36 UTC

    France demanded to pay slavery reparations to Haiti

    The petitioners also requested that France own up to the independence fee it charged 200 years ago

    A large number of Latin American social organizations and personalities, such as Argentine 1980 Nobel Peace Prize laureate Adolfo Pérez Esquivel, demanded Thursday that France recognize and compensate Haiti for the indemnity it imposed after the country's independence in 1804.

  • Saturday, February 1st 2025 - 10:25 UTC

    Brazil: shocking slave-like labor figures released

    Most slavery-like conditions are found in rural areas but urban cases are becoming more frequent

    Numerous businessmen and politicians were singled out in a Labor Ministry report on slave-like working conditions in South America's largest country, released this week, singled out numerous businessmen and politicians. Over the last three decades, over 65,500 people have been rescued from such a situation. In 2024 alone, 1,035 inspections were carried out, resulting in 2,004 people being rescued, as the local feebleness of human rights was once again exposed.

  • Friday, November 22nd 2024 - 10:02 UTC

    Brazil issues apology to black population for slavery

    Efforts must be made to combat racial discrimination, Messias said

    The Brazilian Government of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva Thursday issued an apology to the black population for subjecting their ancestors to slavery, which still has consequences in modern-day society. In his message, Attorney General Jorge Messias underlined the need to combat racial discrimination.

  • Wednesday, October 16th 2024 - 08:33 UTC

    PM Starmer, “paying reparations for slave trade, not in the Commonwealth agenda”

    Sir Hilary Beckles, “It is our intention to persist with this strategy of calling for a summit to work through what a reparatory justice model ought to look like”

    “Just to be clear, reparations are not on the agenda for the Commonwealth heads of government meeting. Technically, the (UK) Government's position on this has not changed. We do not pay reparations,” said Downing Street official spokesperson, when asked what PM Keir Starmer's view on paying reparations for Britain's involvement in the slave trade was.

  • Sunday, August 27th 2023 - 15:41 UTC

    Guyana: Former slave-owning British PM family apologies not enough

    Charles Gladstone called on the United Kingdom to hold talks with CARICOM on reparations (AP Photo)

    Activists were not entirely satisfied with Friday's apology speech by a descendant of former British Prime Minister and slave exploiter/trader William Gladstone at the University of Guyana and insisted reparations worth around US$ 1.2 trillion were due as messages along the lines of “our ancestors deserve real justice” became rife.

  • Monday, April 3rd 2023 - 09:57 UTC

    Brazil: 4 Argentine workers rescued from slavery conditions

    The four victims had been promised monetary compensation for cutting down eucalyptus trees

    Four Argentines working in slavery conditions were rescued by Brazil's Federal Police Saturday in Nova Petrópolis, 90 kilometers from Porto Alegre, according to an O Globo report which also mentioned that the group had been abandoned by their employers in a rural property without resources or food. Among the victims was a 14-year-old minor. A suspect was arrested.

  • Thursday, January 7th 2021 - 09:45 UTC

    Brazilian leading meatpackers linked to ranches that use slave labor

    Brazil’s JBS, one of the world’s largest meat processing firms, bought cattle from two ranches that later ended up on Brazil’s “dirty list”

    An investigation published this week showed six Brazilian meatpacker firms bought cattle from ranches that used slave labor. Labor experts suggested on Wednesday that the firms must clean up their supply chains.

  • Wednesday, July 15th 2020 - 08:32 UTC

    Nestlé and Cargill face demands from slave descendants of Ivory Coast cocoa farms

    The lawsuits targeted the US subsidiary of Swiss-based Nestle, the world's biggest food producer, and commodities trader Cargill

    The US Supreme Court will decide whether American corporations can be sued for alleged human rights abuses occurring abroad under a 1789 law, agreeing to hear appeals by two companies: Cargill Inc and a Nestle SA subsidiary: accused of knowingly helping perpetuate slavery at Ivory Coast cocoa farms.

  • Friday, June 19th 2020 - 11:30 UTC

    Lloyd's of London apologizes for its “shameful” role in the Atlantic slave trade

    Lloyd’s grew to dominate the shipping insurance market, a key element of Europe’s global scramble for empire, treasure and slaves, who were usually included in insurance policies

    The Lloyd’s of London insurance market has apologized for its “shameful” role in the 18th and 19th Century Atlantic slave trade and pledged to fund opportunities for black and ethnic minority groups.

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