Baku hosts conference on Belgian colonial injustices and reparations - Update

An international conference titled "101 Years of Belgian Colonial Injustices and the Struggle for Reparations" has been held in Baku.

According to Report, the event, organized by the Baku Initiative Group (BIG), brought together officials from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Rwanda and Burundi, former Belgian colonies where neocolonial influences are still alleged to persist, as well as representatives from Morocco, South Africa and the United Nations.

The conference discussed advancing the matter of Belgium issuing an official apology and paying reparations for crimes committed against the peoples of the DRC, Rwanda and Burundi during the colonial period on the agenda of the UN, including the Human Rights Council.

Participants also discussed developing an international enforcement mechanism to oversee Belgium's reparations and restitution obligations in line with the principles established by UN General Assembly Resolution 60/147.

The conference noted that UN General Assembly Resolution 60/147 sets out victims' rights to legal protection and reparations. The resolution provides for restitution, compensation, rehabilitation, satisfaction, including acknowledgment and an official apology, and guarantees of non-recurrence as forms of reparation.

According to participants, Belgium has yet to fulfill these obligations. The country has not issued an official state apology for crimes committed in the DRC, Rwanda and Burundi during the colonial period, with officials instead expressing "deep regret," which does not create a legal obligation.

Although 84,000 cultural heritage artifacts have been inventoried, Belgium has allegedly delayed their actual repatriation for decades. Inventory information remains inaccessible to the public, while bilateral restitution agreements have yet to be signed.

Experts from the DRC, Rwanda and Burundi also still lack full access to Belgian colonial-era archives and documents. Experts described the

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An international conference titled "101 Years of Belgian Colonial Injustices and the Struggle for Reparations" has kicked off in Baku, Report informs.

The event, organized by the Baku Initiative Group (BIG), brings together officials from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Rwanda and Burundi, former Belgian colonies where the country is still alleged to maintain neocolonial influence, as well as representatives from Morocco, South Africa and the United Nations.

Among the participants are the Ombudsman of the DRC, members of the Congolese Parliament, Rwanda's ambassador and diplomats in Türkiye, and UN experts.

Participants will discuss advancing the issue of Belgium issuing an official apology and paying reparations for crimes committed against the peoples of the DRC, Rwanda and Burundi during the colonial period on the agenda of the UN, including the Human Rights Council.

They will also consider developing an international enforcement mechanism to oversee Belgium's reparations and restitution obligations in line with the principles set out in UN General Assembly Resolution 60/147.

The conference will also focus on ensuring full and unrestricted access to Belgian colonial archives, involving experts from former colonial territories on an equal footing with international experts, and returning human remains and other historical materials to their countries of origin.