04/10/2025

Abbas Abbasov, Executive Director of the Baku Initiative Group, gave a speech at the international conference on “Colonialism, Neocolonialism, and Its Consequences,” held at the invitation of Ms. Blanca Gomez, President of the Simon Bolivar Institute’s Fund for Peace and Solidarity Among Peoples.

Esteemed guests,

First and foremost, on behalf of the Baku Initiative Group, I extend my greetings to the participants of the international conference on “Colonialism, Neocolonialism, and Its Consequences,” and express my deep gratitude to the organizers and host of the conference.

The main topic of today’s conference aligns with our organization’s mission. BIG supports legitimate struggle against colonialism and neocolonialism, and we have effectively presented the realities and consequences of (neo)colonialism to the international community. 

Dear participants, as well known, Azerbaijan successfully chaired the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) from 2019 to 2023. During the Ministerial Meeting of the Coordination Bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement in July 2023, with the participation of representatives of overseas territories at the international conference dedicated to the topic on “Towards the Complete Elimination of Colonialism” held in Baku, a decision was adopted to establish the Baku Initiative Group, possessing the status of an international non-governmental organization

Operating in full adherence to international law and the principles of human rights, our organization is dedicated to eradicating colonialism and neocolonialism, promoting the right to decolonization, and supporting people affected by the enduring consequences of colonial domination.

Since its founding, BIG has become an international and influential platform in the global decolonization movement. Over the past two years, we have organized around 40 international conferences and high-level events, most of which were held in New York, Geneva, Vienna at the UN headquarters. Also, we conducted international events in Rome, Istanbul, and in the heart of decolonization dialogues in Baku. 

Our international events have been dedicated to various aspects of colonialism, including its ecological, cultural, social, educational, and healthcare impacts. Within the framework of those events, political leaders, scholars, experts in international law, special rapporteurs, and civil society organizations from territories still under colonial domination have been brought together, fostering a broad platform for dialogue and collaboration.

One of the key achievements of the Baku Initiative Group (BIG) was the organization of the First Congress of Nationalist and Independence Movements held in Baku in July 2024, where representatives of independence movements from French and Dutch colonies signed a founding declaration establishing the International Decolonization Front. This significant step consolidated the collective voice of independence movements from regions under colonial suppression and laid the foundation for coordinated global advocacy.

A significant accomplishment of the Baku Initiative Group is the inclusion of its prepared report in the United Nations Secretary-General’s 2025 report on the “Implementation of the Program of Activities for the International Decade for People of African Descent.”

In addition, Baku Initiative Group (BIG) has organized side events in collaboration with the sessions of the United Nations General Assembly, the Special Committee on Decolonization (C24), the Fourth Committee of the General Assembly (C4), the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent, the UN Human Rights Committee, and the UN Human Rights Council, thereby contributing to substantive dialogue alongside intergovernmental discussions.

Furthermore, within the framework of COP29, Baku Initiative Group (BIG) organized a series of events and actions aimed at highlighting not only the political and social consequences of colonialism but also its devastating environmental impacts. Our mission has been to draw the attention of the international community to the destructive impact of colonial domination, which devastates ecosystems, depletes natural resources, and threatens the existence of small island countries and territories under colonial dependency.

Along with advocacy work, BIG is performing as a think tank, producing high-quality research and expert analysis on colonialism and decolonization. To date, BIG has published over 20 publications, including reports, journals, and books, among them the landmark publication "Evolution of French Colonialism: A Political and Constitutional Analysis" by Dr. Carlyle G. Corbin, a recognized international expert on self-determination and governance in non-self-governing territories.

Baku Initiative Group (BIG) continues to play a vital role in supporting peoples enduring colonial oppression. Azerbaijan stands as a beacon of hope and a global platform for peoples striving for independence and liberation to this end.

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