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

Operativ Media reports that the event, organized by the Baku Initiative Group (BIG), brought together officials from Belgium's former colonies—the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Rwanda, and Burundi—as well as Morocco, South Africa, and the United Nations.

Discussions at the conference focused on advancing the issue of demanding an official apology and reparations from Belgium on the agenda of the UN, including the Human Rights Council, for colonial-era crimes committed against the peoples of the DRC, Rwanda, and Burundi. Participants also discussed developing an international enforcement mechanism to monitor Belgium's fulfillment of its reparation and restitution obligations under UN General Assembly Resolution 60/147.

It was noted at the event that UN General Assembly Resolution 60/147 establishes the right of victims to remedies and reparations, outlining forms such as restitution, compensation, rehabilitation, satisfaction (moral recognition and an official apology), and guarantees of non-repetition. Belgium has yet to fulfill any of these obligations, having never issued an official state-level apology for crimes committed during the colonial era in the DRC, Rwanda, and Burundi, with officials limiting themselves to expressions of "deep regret" that carry no legal weight.

Although 84,000 cultural heritage artifacts have been inventoried, the actual repatriation process has been delayed by Belgium for decades. Inventory records remain hidden from the public, bilateral restitution agreements have not been signed, and specialists from the Congo, Rwanda, and Burundi have yet to gain full access to Belgian colonial-era archives and documents. Experts view this situation as Belgium evading a transparent examination of its historical responsibility.

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An international conference titled "Injustices of Belgian Colonialism and 101 Years of Struggle for Reparations," organized by the Baku Initiative Group, is taking place in Baku on August 21.

Operativ Media reports that the international conference is attended by representatives from Belgium's former colonies—the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Rwanda, and Burundi—as well as Morocco and South Africa.

Representatives from the United Nations (UN) are also attending the event.

Officials participating in the conference include the Ombudsman of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, members of the Congolese Parliament, Rwanda's Ambassador to Türkiye, and other diplomats.

The international gathering also brings together international law experts, researchers, human rights defenders, and other specialists in historical justice and reparations.

The conference agenda includes discussions on the history of Belgian colonialism, its political, social, and economic consequences in former colonies, injustices arising from colonial policies, the investigation of historical truths, and the affected nations' demands for reparations.

Participants are also exchanging views on the contemporary impacts of colonial legacy, neocolonialism, ensuring historical justice within international law, and possible steps toward implementing reparation mechanisms.