Baku conference adopts landmark declaration for decolonization, justice PHOTO

The Baku Declaration on scientific commitments to decolonisation and reparations was officially adopted during the international academic conference "Imperial Structure: Colonial Ideologies and Realities", held in Baku, Azerbaijan.

The declaration reaffirms the commitment of scholars and participants to core principles including human rights, academic freedom, justice, and a sustained global effort to confront and dismantle the legacies of colonialism, Caliber.Az reports per local media.

The document emphasizes the urgent need to examine the enduring impact of colonial rule on contemporary societies. It also highlights the pivotal role of academic research and scientific engagement in addressing those legacies and contributing to meaningful change.

A central outcome of the conference was the proposal to create an International Platform for Decolonisation Research and Knowledge. This initiative aims to foster international academic cooperation, empower emerging researchers—particularly from historically marginalized communities—and promote a more pluralistic and inclusive intellectual landscape.

Participants underlined the importance of integrating the voices of marginalized groups into academic dialogue and called for stronger engagement with international organizations to support decolonial research efforts and reparative initiatives.

The two-day international academic conference titled "Imperial Structure: Colonial Ideologies and Realities" commenced in Baku on June 3.

Organized by the Baku Initiative Group, the event marked the first international conference bringing together scholars engaged in decolonisation research within various United Nations agencies, alongside other leading experts in the field.

The conference undertook a rigorous and in-depth analysis of the far-reaching consequences of colonialism. It examined the policies imposed by colonial powers on subjugated peoples, including the institutionalisation of racial hierarchies, and explored the enduring political, economic, and cultural constraints perpetuated through neocolonial practices. Particular focus was given to the deliberate erasure of national identities, analysed through scientific and methodological frameworks.

Participants also addressed the ongoing failure of certain colonial powers to fully implement the decolonisation process, in direct violation of international law and United Nations resolutions. Discussions centred on the strategic use of mechanisms within international organisations to hold such powers accountable, the development of effective enforcement tools, and the necessity of tackling entrenched systemic inequalities within the global institutional framework.

By Vafa Guliyeva