Baku Initiative Group raises global awareness on colonized regions' plight PHOTO

The conference entitled “Towards Independence and Fundamental Freedoms: C24's Role in Ending Colonialism” has been held at the UN headquarters in New York.

The event was held within the annual meeting of the Special Committee - C24 created in connection with the implementation of the UN Declaration on the Granting of Independence of Colonial Countries and Peoples, Caliber.Az reports citing the local media.

Executive Director of the Baku Initiative Group (BIG) Abbas Abbasov told the conference participants in his video message that BIG continues raising awareness of the international community about the real situation in the colonized regions.

“Our organisation will continue supporting actions to preserve the main values of equality and justice. We firmly believe that we will make a significant contribution to the eradication of colonialism through the promotion and protection of human rights,” he noted.

Abbasov noted that the BIG held several international events where the political, economic and cultural consequences of colonialism and human rights violations in colonized territories were discussed.

“The recent violations of fundamental human rights in New Caledonia by the French government testify that the French government does not show the political will to implement UN General Assembly’s resolutions on decolonization,” he stressed.

“We express full solidarity with the Kanaki people and support their just struggle against the expansion of the electorate, and also demand the cancellation of the amendments proposed by the French authorities,” Abbasov added.

“The right to self-determination is fundamental for every people. Despite any pressure, the BIG will continue supporting the just struggle of the colonized territories for their independence,” he said.

“Our organisation is preparing to host the congress of the independence movement in Baku. We will be glad to see you at this honourable event,” the BIG executive director said.

The conference was organised on the initiative of the BIG.

The officials from the territories colonized by France and the Netherlands, as well as representatives from Corsica, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Maohi Nui (French Polynesia), Kanaki (New Caledonia), as well as Saint Martin, Bonaire, and over 40 officials, leaders of independence movements, experts in decolonization, MPs and researchers from the US, France, Brazil, the Union of the Gambian Islands and the Netherlands attended the conference.

The memory of civilians killed by French police and gendarmerie in New Caledonia was observed by a minute of silence at the conference.

The views on the negative consequences of assimilation and its negative impact on the culture, religion, and language of the indigenous population were exchanged during the first panel of the conference.