BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 22. Baku has hosted an international conference on combating neo-colonialism, focusing on the island of Bonaire, which is under Dutch colonial rule, Trend reports.
The event was organized by the Baku Initiative Group and the Movement for Human Rights and Change on Bonaire Island.
Speaking at the event, Vice President of the Bonaire Human Rights Organization James Finies expressed gratitude to the Baku Initiative Group for their support.
“This is our reality, our daily struggle. We are confronting democratic changes, population shifts, and the significant impact of Dutch immigration on our demographics and governance,” he said.
President of the Bonaire Human Rights Organization Davika Bissessar emphasized that the people of Bonaire rely on global support and understanding.
“The rights to self-determination, cultural preservation, identity, and ethical development are central to our mission. However, these rights cannot be fully embodied in isolation. We depend on the support and understanding of the global community to amplify our voices and ensure that justice is not merely an ideal but a reality for all,” she added.
Abbas Abbasov, head of the Baku Initiative Group, emphasized his commitment to supporting the just struggle of colonized regions for independence despite any external pressure.
“Our organization has achieved significant results in raising global awareness about the impact of France's colonial policies in New Caledonia, French Polynesia, Martinique, Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Wallis and Futuna, Mayotte, and Corsica,” he stated.
UN Permanent Forum on People of African Descent June Soomer noted that the Baku Initiative Group has established a safe space for colonial peoples.
“Azerbaijan, as an independent country, deserves praise on behalf of the peoples of the colonial countries of the world, and especially on behalf of Caribbean colonies like Bonaire. I would like to express my gratitude for your courage to come forward and join us in this struggle,” she said.
Carlos Fuller, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Belize to the UN in New York, also expressed gratitude to the Baku Initiative Group for its efforts regarding Bonaire’s colonization issue.
“Our struggle for independence has long been guided by the principles of self-determination and territorial integrity, which are central to our foreign policy. This message is conveyed at all forums, whether addressing small countries or superpowers,” he added.
At the end of the event, a final statement was signed between the Baku Initiative Group and Bonaire. The signing occurred during an international conference organized by the Baku Initiative Group and the Movement for Human Rights and Change on Bonaire.
“Bonaire seeks international support to advocate for its recognition as a non-self-governing territory to protect and ensure the right of its people to self-determination and self-government,” Abbasov concluded.
The “Path to Bonaire's Self-Determination at the UN General Assembly through Baku Initiative Group” conference brought together representatives from Bonaire, who are fighting against colonialism, along with officials and delegates from Belize, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, St. Lucia, the UK, Mexico, the Netherlands, the UN, and other international and regional organizations. Human rights activists, NGO leaders, experts, and researchers in the field of decolonization will also participate in the conference.
High-level attendees will include special representatives from the Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, the Permanent Representative of Belize to the UN, UNICEF Youth Advocates, CARICOM Youth Ambassadors Corps, and the Chair of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in Africa, among others.
The conference addressed Bonaire's struggle for liberation from colonialism and discussed actions taken to bring this issue to the forefront of relevant international organizations, as well as explore international legal avenues for decolonization.
This event was held at a significant time for the Bonaire people, as a few weeks after the conference, several states planned to submit a draft resolution to the UN General Assembly to re-list Bonaire as a territory subject to decolonization. One of the conference's primary goals is to garner international support for this resolution.
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