Despite the UK, leaders agree on reparatory justice talks

Commonwealth leaders have resolved that "the time has come" for a conversation on reparatory justice, despite the UK's insistence that the issue was not on their agenda.

- Eleni Courea APIA, SAMOA and Geneva Abdul

The language, agreed at the Commonwealth heads of government meeting (Chogm) last Saturday, is a blow to the UK, which wanted to avoid reparatory justice being mentioned.

Keir Starmer told a press conference after the summit that the text "notes calls for discussion and it agrees that this is the time for conversations". But he stressed that "none of the discussions have been about money. Our position is very, very clear on that."

The UK government has said it does not pay reparations and insisted that the question was not on the agenda for Chogm before the summit.

However, Commonwealth leaders ultimately defied the UK by including a paragraph on reparatory justice in the summit communique.

Starmer's government avoided a separate declaration on reparatory justice, which some Commonwealth countries had been pushing for.

Proponents of reparatory justice say it can take many forms, including educational programmes, debt relief and other kinds of economic support. Starmer has spoken about the importance of helping Commonwealth countries access climate finance.