Baku: Abbas Abbasov, Executive Director of the Baku Initiative Group (BIG), addressed the international conference on ‘Colonialism, Neocolonialism, and Its Consequences’ held at the invitation of Blanca Rosa Eekhout G³mez, President of the Simon Bolivar Institute for Peace and Solidarity among Peoples. In his address, A. Abbasov highlighted the BIG’s mission, its activities against colonialism and neo-colonialism, and its breakthroughs in global collaboration and decolonization.
According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, Abbasov noted that the main topic of today’s conference aligns with the organization’s mission. Thus, the BIG supports legitimate struggles against colonialism and neocolonialism and has effectively presented the realities and consequences of (neo)colonialism to the international community. He recalled Azerbaijan’s successful chairmanship of the Non-Aligned Movement from 2019 to 2023 and the establishment of the Baku Initiative Group during a Ministerial Meeting of the Coordination Bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement in July 2023.
Operating in full adherence to international law and the principles of human rights, the organization is dedicated to eradicating colonialism and neocolonialism, promoting the right to decolonization, and supporting people affected by the enduring consequences of colonial domination. Since its founding, the BIG has organized around 40 international conferences in cities such as New York, Geneva, Vienna, Rome, Istanbul, and Baku.
A. Abbasov highlighted significant milestones achieved by the BIG, including the First Congress of Nationalist and Independence Movements held in Baku in July 2024 and the creation of the International Decolonization Front. He emphasized the inclusion of the BIG’s report in the United Nations Secretary-General’s 2025 report on the ‘Implementation of the Program of Activities for the International Decade for People of African Descent.’
In addition, the BIG has organized events in collaboration with various UN bodies, contributing to substantive dialogue alongside intergovernmental discussions. The BIG has also focused on the environmental impacts of colonialism as part of COP29, conducting events and protests to draw attention to the devastating effects on ecosystems and small island countries.
Alongside its advocacy work, the BIG functions as a think tank, producing research and expert analysis on colonialism and decolonization, with over 20 publications to date. Abbasov concluded by underscoring that the Baku Initiative Group continues to play a vital role in supporting peoples enduring colonial oppression, positioning Azerbaijan as a beacon of hope and a global platform for peoples striving for independence and liberation.