Baku initiative group to hold conference on right of return in Washington

An international conference focusing on the right of return, self-determination, and double standards in the application of international law is scheduled to take place on June 24 at the US Congress building on Capitol Hill in Washington.

The event, titled “Right of Return and Self-Determination: Double Standards and Selective Approaches,” is being organised by the Baku Initiative Group (BIG), according to the organisation, local media reports.

Organisers say it will be the first event held at the US Congress dedicated to the issue of Azerbaijanis displaced from Armenia.

The conference is expected to bring together experts on refugee and minority rights, human rights advocates, international law specialists, representatives of diaspora organisations, civil society groups, and members of communities affected by ethnic violence, discrimination, and persecution.

Discussions will focus on the right of return of Azerbaijanis who were displaced from their historic lands in Armenia, including issues related to safe, voluntary, and dignified return. Participants are also expected to examine the role of international organisations in addressing the issue.

The agenda includes discussions on the preservation of cultural, religious, and historical heritage, including the destruction or appropriation of Azerbaijani monuments, religious sites, cemeteries, and place names. Participants will consider possible international monitoring and accountability mechanisms within the United Nations framework.

Additionally, the conference will examine the right of peoples suffering from colonialism to self-determination, with particular attention to placing colonies on the UN list of Non-Self-Governing Territories requiring decolonisation.