24/02/2024

Decolonization: Awakening of the Renaissance

The Baku Initiative Group organized an international conference "Decolonization: Awakening of the Renaissance" in Istanbul, Türkiye, on February 24, 2024.
2 days conference in Istanbul convened a total of 50 representatives from 13 countries and 4 international organizations, the vast majority of which represent the overseas territories that are still under French colonial rule such as Kanaky (New Caledonia), Maohi Nui (French Polynesia), French Guiana, Martinique, Guadeloupe, Wallis and Futuna, Corsica, as well as the Union of Comoros (France still occupies the island of Mayotte, which is a territory of the Union of the Comoros).

The international conference was a landmark beginning to reshape historical narratives, usher in a new era in international relations, and ignite change by addressing the effects of French colonial policy.

Moreover, this event played a significant role in discussing the consequences of French "Orientalism" colonial and neo-colonialist policy and the steps aimed at them. The conference consistently focused on amplifying the voices of people in countries affected by colonialism and neocolonialism to the global community.

Panel sessions
On February 24, 2024, there were two panel sessions, that featured discussions on various themes. The panels helped to get insights into diverse aspects of the issues and were a great way to gain awareness of the importance of decolonization.
The first-panel discussion themed "Impacts of Colonization on National Identity" covered a range of subjects, including ethnic and cultural discrimination, political instability, repression, political history, social and economic challenges, persecution of independent media, security concerns, and the consequences for immigration, emigration, and expatriates.
The second-panel session explored the topic of the “Artificial legal barriers created by the French government during the decolonization of renaissance”. Topics included border issues, security and defense, national resource ownership, international recognition, citizenship concerns, legislation, and economic reforms.
Presentation by STOP TB Partnership hosted by UNOPS
The event continued with the presentation that shared information and ideas with an audience in a visually and professionally engaging manner.

The participation of the STOP TB Partnership hosted by UNOPS contributed to the event with its useful ideas and support. The representative of the STOP TB Partnership shed light on infectious diseases, solving medical problems and deficiencies in the countries of people suffering from colonization, still living in dire poverty with dysfunctional healthcare systems and extremely limited access.
An open letter to French President Emmanuel Macron As an outcome document of the conference, the participants addressed an open letter to French President Emmanuel Macron.
Referring to the resolutions of the UN General Assembly on decolonization, the letter underlined that despite the adoption of those documents more than 60 years ago, the peoples living in Corsica, Melanesia, Polynesia, the Caribbean, and the Antilles still suffer from French colonialism and neocolonialism.
The letter highlighted various crimes committed by France on those islands, as well as the occupation of these lands by the French state, the deliberate creation of obstacles to the development of the local economy, the poisoning of the local population with pesticides, and the population’s suffering from its consequences, the forced emigration of people, the illegal resettlement of these areas which is still ongoing, the colonial judicial systems, as well as other facts.

The participants demanded that Emmanuel Macron stop the illegal actions of the French government, stressing the importance of sending the UNESCO mission to those regions to prepare a report on the state of cultural and religious heritage in these areas. Participants of the conference also called to send the OSCE mission to the colonial countries to study the state of the environment, economy, human rights, and the rights of the indigenous population.

Petitions
Additionally, it was declared that 2 online petitions have been launched to return over 100,000 material and cultural values stolen from past and present colonies and transported by the French government to mainland France.
General Assembly meeting
The second session of the General Assembly took place in İstanbul on February 25, 2024. Appropriately, the General Assembly’s meeting dealt with the problems raised by delegates and established the related Committees. 
The General Assembly endorsed the establishment of two committees - The Political Issues Committee and The Awareness and Research Committee. 
The Political Issues Committee conducts extensive and comprehensive cooperation between the leaders and members of social movements and political parties. It aims to establish ties on political issues with broader societal groups.

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