The Baku Initiative Group has been recognised in a UN report as the only NGO among global civil society actors advocating for decolonisation and island sovereignty.
The United Nations Secretary-General’s latest report on the implementation of the International Decade for People of African Descent has cited the Baku Initiative Group (BIG) for its work promoting decolonisation and the rights of small island peoples.
Published ahead of the UN’s 2025 programme of action, the report includes BIG as the sole non-governmental organisation highlighted among global civil society efforts in this field.
BIG had submitted its own activities report to the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in May 2025, detailing events held under the UN decade framework.
The group’s listed contributions included a 21 January 2025 international conference titled "Independence of Réunion Island: Reassessing France’s Colonial Legacy and the Path to Sovereignty", and a media tour from 24–26 February involving journalists from territories under French and Dutch colonial rule.
Another major event cited was the "Decolonisation: The Silent Revolution" conference, held on 15 April at the UN Headquarters in New York. This was registered as an official side event of the UN Permanent Forum on People of African Descent’s fourth session.
These events, the report notes, have played a key role in raising international awareness of decolonisation and human rights. BIG Executive Director Abbas Abbasov and representatives from non-self-governing territories also addressed the UN General Assembly during the Forum’s session.
In addition to these engagements, BIG launched a petition campaign and formal appeal titled "Reparations: Confronting the Colonial Legacy", calling for accountability from former colonial powers. The documents denounced efforts to evade responsibility for historical injustices and asserted that reparations represent not only a legal imperative but a moral obligation rooted in justice and human dignity.
The mention in the Secretary-General’s report, BIG said, confirms its role as a trusted international partner and a significant platform for amplifying the voices of colonised peoples.
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