Abstract

GARRIDO, Rui. Redressing historical injustices: an analytical inquiry into Portuguese colonialism. AHRY [online]. 2025, vol.9, pp.316-339. ISSN 2663-323X.  https://doi.org/10.29053/2523-1367/2025/v9a14.

The African Union has designated 2025 as the Year of Justice for Africans and Afro-descendants, reigniting the debate on historical reparations for colonialism and colonial crimes. In April 2024, the President of the Portuguese Republic acknowledged the state's responsibility for past crimes, mentioning the need for reparations. Based on an analysis of current international law, this article aims to contribute to the broader debate on how to redress colonial crimes. It focuses primarily on the cases of Portugal's former colonies in Africa. The article argues that an official apology is essential and must be accompanied by honest dialogue and concrete reparative actions. By unpacking the legal framework to identify possible legal avenues through reparatory measures, the article concludes that a decolonial and emancipatory approach to international law is imperative and that reparations are a moral obligation of former colonisers.

Keywords : Colonialismo Português; Eurocentrismo; reparações; justiça histórica; direitos humanos.

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