Executive Director of the Baku Initiative Group (BIG) Abbas Abbasov delivered a statement at the United Nations Human Rights Committee meeting held on Monday as part of the 142nd session of the Human Rights Committee in Geneva, Switzerland.

The Baku Initiative Group and the delegations of New Caledonia and French Polynesia participated in the meeting.

In his statement, Abbasov condemned the illegal referendum held by France saying: “The 2021 independence referendum in New Caledonia saw low voter turnout, as the Kanak people abstained to protest France's refusal to delay the vote despite the pandemic. The Kanak population views the results as illegitimate, with their right to self-determination undermined. France's push for constitutional changes to expand the electorate has sparked protests, resulting in 11 deaths, over 200 injuries, and increased military deployment since May 2024. We support the call for a UN visiting mission to assess the situation and engage with local Kanak leaders.”

“French Polynesia has limited autonomy, but France still controls key areas like foreign policy, defense, and law. The people continue to suffer from the long-term effects of France's nuclear testing. Many are now calling for greater autonomy or full independence, but France resists these efforts. This resistance undermines their right to self-determination, as recognized by UN Resolution 67/265, which re-listed French Polynesia as a Non-Self-Governing Territory,” the BIG Executive Director noted.

Abbasov also provided detailed information on Azerbaijan's efforts, as the chair of the Non-Aligned Movement and a current member of its Troika, to combat colonialism on international platforms. “The Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), led by Azerbaijan, has prioritized decolonization in its foreign policy. We urge NAM to support self-determination for New Caledonia and French Polynesia, as emphasized in the 2019 Baku Summit's Final Document, which identified the eradication of colonialism as a key goal,” he said.

“Urgent action is needed to ensure the people of New Caledonia and French Polynesia can exercise their right to self-determination, as guaranteed by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The global community must unite to defend these rights and end colonial practices in the 21st century,” Abbas Abbasov concluded.

As the 142nd session of the UN Human Rights Committee (HRC) is currently underway at the UN’s Geneva office, the Baku Initiative Group (BIG) also submitted an alternative report to the UN Human Rights Committee exposing France’s colonial policies. The report has been published on the official website of the UN Human Rights Committee.

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