UN conference on decolonisation concludes with strongly worded final document PHOTO

The international conference titled “Decolonisation: Silent Revolution,” organized by the Baku Initiative Group (BIG) at the United Nations headquarters in New York, concluded with the adoption of a final document condemning colonial legacies and ongoing neocolonial practices.

The document delivers a firm denunciation of the long-lasting and devastating impact of colonialism, describing it as a system that has inflicted “irreparable deep wounds” across the globe, Caliber.Az reports citing local media.

It calls for historical accountability and unequivocally criticizes former colonial powers for failing to acknowledge or redress the consequences of their imperial pasts.

The declaration singles out France and the Netherlands in particular, asserting that both countries have “not abandoned their colonial policies” and continue to exert control over various overseas territories. These include Guadeloupe, Martinique, French Guiana, Réunion, Mayotte, Bonaire, and Saint Martin, among others. The document describes these territories as still being subjected to forms of domination and exploitation that echo the colonial era, highlighting the persistence of foreign rule under the guise of administrative governance.

The final document of the conference unequivocally declared that colonial crimes constitute crimes against humanity, stressing that former colonial regimes must be held accountable through the provision of adequate reparations for the injustices they inflicted. In the absence of such restitution, the document called on the international community to consider the imposition of targeted sanctions against these states.

Furthermore, the declaration voiced strong support for the work of non-governmental organizations such as the Baku Initiative Group, applauding their efforts to expose and confront the ongoing realities of colonialism under international law. In this context, the document sharply condemned the resolution adopted by the French National Assembly on March 28, which was aimed at discrediting the Baku Initiative Group and its advocacy.

The conference concluded with participants extending their deep appreciation to the Baku Initiative Group for its leadership in organizing the event and for amplifying the voices of communities still subjected to the legacies of colonial rule.

The event was organized on the margins of the 4th session of the UN Permanent Forum on People of African Descent.

This marks the first time the conference has been formally registered as an official UN event, underscoring the growing international recognition of decolonisation as a pressing issue in contemporary geopolitics.

The conference brought together a diverse group of experts, political figures, and human rights activists from regions still considered to be under colonial administration, including Guadeloupe, Martinique, Kanaky (New Caledonia), Saint Martin, Réunion, Bonaire, Aruba, Maohi Nui (French Polynesia), and French Guiana. These territories, administered by France and the Netherlands, continue to grapple with the legacy and ongoing realities of colonial governance.

By Vafa Guliyeva