BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 15. The Baku Initiative Group (BIG), established in July 2023 during the Non-Aligned Movement’s ministerial meeting, has been a consistent and committed advocate for the freedom and independence of peoples living under colonial rule and neo-colonial regimes, said BIG’s Executive Director, Abbas Abbasov, during the 4th session of the UN Permanent Forum on People of African Descent, Trend reports.
“Africa and people of African descent have not been spared the tragic legacy of colonialism. The rights to life, freedom, equality, cultural identity, and decolonization are not privileges — they are universal human rights, enshrined in the UN Charter, the Bandung Principles of the Non-Aligned Movement, and numerous international instruments. Yet, for many African countries and people of African descent, these rights remain far from being realized,” he said.
Abbasov noted that over the past two years, BIG has organized nearly 30 international conferences focused on the lasting impact of colonialism. These events have brought together representatives and leaders of independence movements from regions affected by colonial policies — including Guadeloupe, Martinique, Bonaire, Sint Maarten, Kanaky (New Caledonia), Maohi Nui (French Polynesia), French Guiana, Réunion, Mayotte, Corsica, and others — as well as experts and scholars in the field of decolonization.
“Today, we are not just reflecting on the past — we are helping shape the future. This Forum is a vital platform for amplifying the voices of historically marginalized people of African descent on the global stage.”
He also announced that BIG will host an event titled “Decolonization: The Quiet Revolution” on April 15, supported by the Permanent Forum. “I invite all participants to actively take part in this discussion, where we’ll address key issues affecting people of African descent,” Abbasov said.
“In closing, I want to stress once again that this struggle is not only about acknowledging the mistakes of the past — it is about building a more just, inclusive, and human rights–centered future.”