UN's Call for Historical Justice: Demand That Draws Attention for Western Azerbaijan

At the international conference held at the United Nations Headquarters, the 'right of return', decolonization, self-determination, historical justice, and the protection of cultural heritage were brought to the table. The conference, where the demand for the return of West Azerbaijanis was also a key agenda item, featured representatives from New Caledonia/Kanaky, St. Martin, the Caribbean, Guyana, Guadeloupe, and the Sih community. New York Representative Özlem Özgüt Yörekli of ABDPost followed the program on site.

More than 50 delegates from 16 countries participated.

On September 28, the Baku Initiative Group (Bakü Girişim Grubu-BIG) organized an international conference titled 'The Right of Return and Decolonization: Restoration of Delayed Historical Justice' at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, within the 81st session of the UN General Assembly.

It was announced that more than 50 delegates from 16 countries attended the conference. Among the participants were experts working in refugee and minority rights, scholars conducting research on the right of return, representatives of diaspora organizations, and activists and specialists from various communities.

New York Representative Özlem Özgüt Yörekli, who followed the program on behalf of ABDPost, reported that delegates from different regions evaluated the right of return not merely as a physical return to a territory, but through the lenses of identity, historical memory, cultural heritage, property, and self-determination.

Elgun Hajiyev: 'The right of return is a fundamental human right.'

At the opening of the conference, Elgun Hajiyev, Head of Communication and Data Analytics at the Baku Initiative Group, argued that the issue of West Azerbaijanis returning to the places they once lived in should be assessed within the framework of relevant UN agencies and international mechanisms.

Hajiyev said that return should not be seen merely as a physical movement, but also encompass the reestablishment of identity, human dignity, historical memory, and cultural continuity.

Among the conference's core theses was the view that return must be safe, voluntary, dignified, and sustainable, and that issues of property and cultural heritage should also be incorporated into the process.

Dimitri Qenegei carried Kanaky's demand to the UN.

One of the conference's standout figures was Dimitri Qenegei. Qenegei joined the program as the official representative of the Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front (FLNKS) operating in New Caledonia/Kanaky, a French territory in the South Pacific.

Qenegei approached the concept of the "right of return" from the perspective of the Kanak people's decolonization struggle.

According to him, "return" does not merely mean physically returning to a land; it also includes the reclamation of the historical memory that was lost due to colonization, as well as the right to determine cultural heritage, institutional authority, and the community's own future.

Qenegei argued that the concept of "return" should not be understood as simply going back to the past; rather, it should be defined as the reconstruction of historical continuity that was interrupted due to colonization.

Qenegei's involvement in UN decolonization efforts is not new; his name also appears among the experts in the records of the 2022 Pacific Regional Decolonization Seminar.

Rhoda Arrindell: "The right must be valid for all displaced peoples."

Dr. Rhoda Rebecca Arrindell, who attended the conference from St. Martin, drew attention to the link between the right of return and the right to determine one's destiny.

Arrindell, who is also known as the president of One SXM Association, argued from the historically divided context of St. Martin between France and the Netherlands that decolonization remains an unfinished process. Arrindell stated that the principles of return and self‑determination should not be tailored to specific communities but applied to all forcibly displaced peoples.

Arrindell’s work within One SXM has long focused on the political status of St. Martin and the debates over self‑determination. One SXM had previously called for a new referendum on independence in St. Martin.

An 'implementation' message from Carlyle Corbin to the UN

International governance and decolonization expert Dr. Carlyle Corbin was among the speakers at the conference.

Corbin noted that the UN has adopted numerous decisions on decolonization for many years, but the real issue is implementing those decisions. Pointing out the place of the self‑determination principle within the UN system, Corbin argued that international mechanisms need to be made more effective.

Corbin’s expertise in decolonization is also reflected in UN records. His name appears among the experts who presented discussion papers at the UN’s past decolonization seminars.

June Soomer: Compensation is also part of historical justice

One of the conference's highlighted speakers was Ambassador June Christine Marie Soomer.

Former chair of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Peoples of African Origin, Soomer, evaluated the issue of decolonization through the Caribbean's historical experience and compensation debates.

Soomer pointed out that political independence does not always mean full sovereignty, arguing that the economic, cultural and social impacts of colonialism must also be taken into account.

Addressing the issue of compensation in the face of historical violations, Soomer said that remedial mechanisms should be effective, timely and proportionate to the harm suffered. This message from Soomer also appeared in the news published on the day of the conference.

Alston Lourens: He drew attention to St. Martin's divided structure.

Another speaker from St. Martin was Alston Lourens.

The secretary of the One SXM Association, Lourens, a former government adviser and journalist, raised the issue of St. Martin’s split structure between France and the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Lourens argued that the people of St. Martin are interconnected in terms of history, family, culture, and daily life, but that the political boundary drawn during the colonial era continues to influence the island’s governance.

In his speech, Lourens also cited the COVID‑19 period and highlighted the problems arising in everyday life from decisions made by different administrations on each side of the island. According to him, a “return” for St. Martin is not merely going back to one place, but is also linked to the island’s historical integrity and the people’s ability to shape their own future.

Patrick Guy Bazile highlighted the Caribbean’s historical legacy.

Among the speakers at the conference, Patrick Guy Bazile addressed colonialism in the Caribbean, the historical legacy of African‑origin communities, and issues of cultural identity.

In Bazile’s speech, the political and economic structures that emerged in the post‑colonial era, as well as the historical experience of the African diaspora, came to the fore.

Within the overall framework of the conference, it was stated that the right of return in the Caribbean should be viewed not merely as a geographic return, but as a re-establishment of the right of peoples to shape their own futures, encompassing cultural heritage, historical memory, and the voice of societies.

Xavier Nelson emphasized French Guiana.

Xavier Nelson, among the speakers, also offered assessments on the decolonization debates concerning France’s overseas territories.

Nelson is known as a figure active within the Mouvement de Décolonisation et d’Émancipation Sociale (MDES) in French Guiana. In French Guiana media, Nelson is described as an MDES activist.

At the conference, the fact that political decisions are made in Paris, thousands of kilometres away, through French Guiana, along with economic inequalities, natural resources, and the challenges faced by indigenous communities, was brought to the fore.

Abbas Ismail drew attention to the lasting effects of colonialism.

Abbas Ismail was also among the speakers.

Ismail, who had previously drawn attention with his research on slavery and post‑slavery societies, took part in the Baku Initiative Group’s event.

Ismail, a researcher affiliated with the International Studies Center at ISCTE University, focuses on the historical impact of Belgian slavery on Rwanda and the region’s social structures. In earlier statements he argued that confronting slavery should not be limited to formal apologies but should be backed by structural changes.

Two names from the Sikh community spoke at the conference.

At the conference, representing the Sikh community, Jasjit Singh and Prabjot Singh Wirring also spoke.

The Sikh representatives discussed self‑determination, the diaspora, preserving ties with the homeland, and the right of return.

Especially Sikh Federation International's legal adviser Prabjot Singh Wirring said that the right of return does not simply mean crossing physical borders.

According to Wirring, people should be able to reconnect with their homelands, families, cultural heritage, and sacred sites without fear of discrimination or political punishment.

Wirring also argued that the right of return has both individual and collective dimensions, stating that it is closely linked to the right to determine one's own destiny.

Cultural heritage and property rights were discussed.

At the conference, Azerbaijani participants and organizers raised allegations that historic settlements, cemeteries, mosques, and other cultural heritage elements belonging to Azerbaijanis within today's Armenian borders had been destroyed or altered.

The short documentary shown in the program also featured the organizers' historical narrative about Azerbaijanis leaving Armenia and allegations concerning the state of cultural heritage.

The conference documents expressed the view that historical settlements, cemeteries, religious buildings, place names, and other cultural heritage elements must be protected as an integral part of the right of return.

Armenia objects to this statement.

The Western Azerbaijan and return rhetoric expressed at the conference has a controversial political dimension in the context of Azerbaijan–Armenia relations.

The Armenian authorities oppose the use of the term 'West Azerbaijan' by the Azerbaijani side and the historical claims advanced within that framework. While Yerevan considers this rhetoric problematic for Armenia's sovereignty and territorial integrity, the Azerbaijani side argues that the request for return is not a territorial claim but a human‑rights issue concerning a safe, voluntary, and dignified return.

Therefore, the historical characterizations and accusations directed at Armenia expressed at the conference are regarded as the views of the organizers and speakers.

Special rapporteur call to the UN.

At the end of the conference, a joint call was accepted on behalf of the Baku Initiative Group and participants for United Nations mechanisms.

The call requested that the return processes be carried out safely, voluntarily, honorably, and sustainably, that cultural and historical heritage be preserved, and that international guarantee mechanisms be established.

It was also reported that a call for the appointment of a special rapporteur to the UN administration was accepted at the end of the event.

The conference ended with a silent protest.

After the program in New York, participants staged a silent protest.

Banners bearing demands for the right of return, historical justice, and decolonization were carried in the demonstration. According to the organizers' statement, the action concluded peacefully.

At the conference, the prominent common theme was the view that the right of return should not be considered only as a physical return; it should be addressed together with issues of identity, historical memory, cultural heritage, property, human dignity, and determining one's own destiny. Participants called on the United Nations and other international mechanisms to take a more active role in these areas.