An international conference titled “Belgium’s Colonial Injustice and the 101-Year Path to Reparations” commenced in Baku on August 21.
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An international conference titled “Belgium’s Colonial Injustice and the 101-Year Path to Reparations” commenced in Baku on August 21.
The event was organized by the Baku Initiative Group.
The conference brought together officials from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Burundi – former Belgian colonies that continue to experience the impacts of neocolonialism – as well as representatives from Morocco, South Africa, and the UN.
The participants also include the Ombudsman of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), members of the Congolese Parliament, the Ambassador of Rwanda and diplomats accredited to Türkiye, UN experts, specialists in international law, researchers, human rights defenders, and experts on historical justice and reparations.
The conference will discuss the history of Belgian colonialism, the political, social, and economic consequences of colonial rule in former colonies, injustices caused by colonial policies, the examination of historical facts, and compensation demands from affected peoples.
The event will also feature an exchange of views on the contemporary impact of the legacy of colonialism and neocolonialism, ensuring historical justice within the framework of international law, and possible steps toward establishing reparation mechanisms.
