The Baku Initiative Group has expressed full support for the UN General Assembly resolution recognizing the transatlantic slave trade as “the gravest crime against humanity,” the organization told APA.
The statement noted that the resolution, backed by the African Union and the Caribbean Community, acknowledges the lasting impact of slavery, including racial inequality and underdevelopment affecting people of African descent worldwide.
It also calls for the return of cultural artefacts taken during the colonial era, urges UN member states to consider issuing official apologies, and encourages contributions to a reparations fund to address the long-term consequences of this historical injustice.
It was emphasized that the Baku Initiative Group views reparations not only as financial compensation, but as part of a broader concept of justice, including formal apologies, restitution of cultural heritage, educational initiatives, and the establishment of international mechanisms to prevent such crimes from recurring.
The organization has consistently raised the issue of injustices faced by people of African descent on international platforms and actively participated in the 35th session of the UN Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent in December 2024 and the 4th session of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent in April 2025 at the UN Headquarters.
During these sessions, the group highlighted the need to eliminate neocolonialism and protect the rights of people of African descent in territories still under colonial rule. It also published multiple reports and submitted findings to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
The reference to the Baku Initiative Group in the UN Secretary-General’s report confirms its recognition as a trusted international partner and an important platform for amplifying the voices of peoples affected by colonialism.
The group called on UN member states to implement the resolution through concrete steps, deepen dialogue on reparations, and undertake tangible commitments to ensure historical justice.
