On October 22, as part of the ongoing 142nd session of the UN Human Rights Committee (HRC), the international conference titled “The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Consequences of French Colonialism,” organized by the Baku Initiative Group (BIG), took place at the UN office in Geneva.
The event began with a video presentation outlining the fight against colonialism launched by the Baku Initiative Group several years ago, as well as the activities and events organized by BIG on this topic.
Abbas Abbasov, the Executive Director of the Baku Initiative Group, emphasized in his speech that the main goal of BIG is to put an end to the colonial policies practiced by France, the Netherlands, and other countries, to liberate people from this oppressive regime, and to help local populations achieve their basic freedoms.
Political activist Kémi Séba, known worldwide for his anti-colonialism stance, shared his recent experience of illegal detention in France and mistreatment by the police. He said the French government tried to silence him by holding him in custody for 72 hours but vowed to continue his struggle until the end.
Mlin Sakilia, an independent MP from New Caledonia representing the FLNKS party, spoke about how peaceful demonstrations in his country are being suppressed, with activists arrested and tortured by French police. He noted that France has deployed troops to New Caledonia to suppress freedom of expression and political dissent. Indigenous Kanaks are being arrested, beaten, interrogated, and held in inhumane conditions, with over 500 missing persons, 2,800 arrests, and 11 deaths reported.
Davika Bissessar-Sau, president of a human rights organization from Bonaire, a Dutch colony, spoke about serious human rights violations on the island. She highlighted forced birth control injections for young women aimed at reducing the local population, turning the small island into one of the world’s largest prisons per capita. Children are being removed from their families and placed under Dutch guardianship, a move that threatens the future of the local society, with the goal of eradicating the indigenous population, she said.
Cindy Pollux, representing the Decolonization and Social Emancipation Party from French Guiana, noted that France fails to apply the European Social Charter on its colonized territories. She described the unbearable living conditions in Guiana, where residents lack access to clean water, which is contaminated by mercury. “We use this platform to strongly condemn France’s disrespect for human rights, despite its claims to be a defender of freedom, equality, and fraternity,” Pollux said.
Muriel Daniel, a member of the Movement of Democrats and Ecologists for a Sovereign Martinique (MODEMS), emphasized that colonialism is a gaping wound in human history—an ongoing system of dominance that continues to destroy lives and plunder resources under the guise of civilization. He condemned the hypocrisy of colonialism, stressing that it dehumanizes the colonizer, strips away dignity, erases culture, and fosters economic dependence. Martinique, like other colonized countries, demonstrates the stark contrast between the principles of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the current reality. “The theft of our land is an intolerable reality. Exorbitant prices for food and essential services are part of colonial policies aimed at keeping our people in bondage,” Daniel stated.
Jean-Jacob Bissep, Secretary-General of the Popular Union for the Liberation of Guadeloupe (UPLG), spoke about France’s crimes in its colonies, including on Guadeloupe, noting that the island has witnessed unspeakable atrocities. Despite the abolition of slavery, colonial authorities continue to treat people as if they were slaves. He also recounted the mass killings carried out by France over the years in Madagascar, Algeria, Guadeloupe, and other territories.
The conference participants emphasized the unbearable conditions of life under colonial rule, condemning European states that claim to uphold human rights in other countries while violating these very rights in their own colonies. A strong protest was voiced against the suppression of the voices of the local populations and the concealment of atrocities. Participants called on the UN and the international community to fight against colonial injustice.
The efforts of the Baku Initiative Group in raising awareness of the plight of people suffering under colonial oppression were highly praised. The event concluded with a peaceful demonstration in front of the UN office in Geneva, with participants wearing T-shirts with the slogan “End French Colonialism!” and holding placards. They joined a protest by the Kanaks, who had also gathered outside the UN office.
The conference was attended by parliamentarians, NGO leaders, and political party representatives from France’s and the Netherlands’ colonized territories—Martinique, New Caledonia, Guadeloupe, Bonaire, Saint Martin, French Polynesia, Mayotte, French Guiana, Corsica, and Guyana—as well as experts, academics, think-tank researchers, and diplomats accredited to the UN office in Geneva.
