During a commemoration on May 21, French President Emmanuel Macron acknowledged the necessity of reparations for France's role in the transatlantic slave trade. He stated that the legacy of enslavement should not be overlooked and warned against 'false promises' regarding reparations, noting that full repair of the historical injustices is 'impossible.' Macron advocated for the symbolic repeal of the 'Code Noir,' historical decrees governing enslavement in French colonies. His remarks represent a notable shift in France's stance, although he refrained from detailing specific reparations, focusing instead on initiatives such as education and memorialization. Macron also backed an international research project led by Ghana on the legacies of enslavement. Calls for reparations continue to grow from civil society groups and descendants of enslaved individuals, as well as from African and Caribbean nations. In March, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution recognizing the transatlantic slave trade as a crime against humanity and advocating for reparations. France's abstention from voting on this resolution drew criticism, particularly from its overseas territories. The French government is now urged to create a reparatory framework aligned with international human rights standards.