The UN General Assembly approved on Friday a resolution to encourage the replacement of the traditional Mercator world map with another representation that more accurately shows the size of Africa and other regions. The vote was practically unanimous, with 164 votes in favor, six abstentions, and only one opposing vote, coming from the United States.
The resolution joins a series of recent initiatives by the organization regarding the legacy of slavery, colonialism, and racial discrimination. Just in the past two years, the UN has begun dedicating increasing space to discussions on reparations and acknowledgments of historical injustices.
Although UN resolutions are not legally binding, once approved, they can have significant influence on international discussions and on policies adopted by its member countries. The Mercator map, created in the 16th century, is known for distorting the actual size of continents, especially Africa, which appears smaller than it really is in relation to other regions of the world.
