The event, organized by the Baku Initiative Group, brings together representatives from the Reunion community advocating for independence, AzVision.az reports.
It also features leaders from anti-colonial organizations, human rights defenders, NGO heads, decolonization experts, and researchers.
The conference aims to raise awareness about the ongoing efforts to bring the recognition of the Reunion people’s right to self-determination onto the agenda of key international organizations, exploring international legal mechanisms to support this cause.
Reunion Island, first discovered by Portuguese explorers in the early 1500s, was later captured by the French during the reign of Louis XIV in 1642, when it was initially named Bourbon Island. Three years later, the French established the first permanent colony on the island.
The colonial legacy continues to shape economic, political, and social dynamics on Reunion Island. France's enduring influence on the island presents significant obstacles to the local population's aspirations for political and economic independence.
Economically, this influence is evident in issues such as the island's heavy reliance on France for foreign trade and investment, the weakening of local production, and rising unemployment. Politically, France's governance models and institutional structures not only curtail the Reunion people's right to self-determination but also restrict their involvement in crucial decision-making processes.
This conference is set to serve as a vital platform in calling for international support, empowering the Reunion people to independently chart their future, free from the shadows of colonial rule.
AzVision.az
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