Baku Initiative Group launches global petition for colonial reparations at UN conference PHOTO

The Baku Initiative Group (BIG) has launched a global petition titled “Recognition of Historical Colonial Oppression and Provision of Necessary Compensation” during the international conference “Decolonization: A Silent Revolution” held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.

The announcement was made by BIG Executive Director Abbas Abbasov, who urged international delegates and civil society actors to support the petition and endorse its call for justice for peoples who have endured the legacy of colonial rule, Caliber.Az reports, citing local media.

The petition, now available on BIG’s official website, calls on the international community to formally recognize the material and moral damage inflicted by colonial regimes and to back the payment of fair compensation. It highlights the enduring impact of colonialism, citing the exploitation of millions through slavery, ethnic discrimination, and economic marginalization.

“Colonial empires built their wealth by plundering the natural resources of occupied territories, destroying indigenous identities, and enforcing foreign rule,” said Abbasov. “Even today, powers such as France and the Netherlands continue to benefit from systems rooted in their imperial pasts.”

The document names territories still grappling with the consequences of colonialism—including Kanaky (New Caledonia), Mā’ohi Nui (French Polynesia), Guadeloupe, Martinique, Réunion, and others—where populations face unjust trade systems, illicit financial flows, and burdensome debts.

The petition references key international legal documents, including UN General Assembly Resolution 1514 (XV), the 2001 Durban Declaration, and statements by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev at international decolonization conferences held in Baku. It demands official apologies, compensation, debt relief, and socio-economic and cultural support for the affected regions.

Speaking on the sidelines of the 4th Session of the UN Permanent Forum on People of African Descent, Abbasov emphasized Azerbaijan’s leadership role in reviving the global decolonization agenda.

“Through the Non-Aligned Movement and the Baku Initiative Group, Azerbaijan has become the hub of a second wave of decolonization,” he said. “In the past two years alone, we have organized over 20 international conferences, published 12 reports, and released three books on the subject.”

Abbasov also highlighted the challenges faced by BIG, including cyberattacks and attempts to intimidate participants. “This kind of pressure has become routine,” he said. “But it will not deter us from supporting movements resisting French and Dutch colonialism.”

He added that BIG has held around 10 decolonization conferences at the UN Headquarters in New York and regularly submits reports to the UN Human Rights Council and other UN bodies. Some UN institutions have already begun requesting specific reports from France regarding the situation in New Caledonia and French Polynesia.

“As an international think tank, we are committed to sustaining the momentum of global decolonization efforts,” Abbasov concluded.

By Khagan Isayev