Baku: An international conference titled 'Neocolonialism and Global Inequality' was held in Baku, organized by the Baku Initiative Group. A final declaration was adopted following the conference.

According to Azeri-Press News Agency, the declaration states that the participants, recognizing the historical and structural causes of global inequality, support the rights of peoples to self-determination and sovereignty over their natural resources. They accept decolonization as an ongoing commitment and demonstrate adherence to the principle of international solidarity. The participants also call for reforms within international institutions, efforts to combat inequality, the strengthening of academic research and public dialogue, and the promotion of fair partnerships that respect sovereignty.

The Baku Initiative Group was commended for its contribution to the global decolonization process through the Virtual Museum of Colonialism. The conference was notable for bringing together anthropologists and psychotherapists who have worked directly with indigenous populations of colonial territories, experts involved in the creation of a Virtual Museum dedicated to colonialism, leaders of independence movements, and researchers specializing in neocolonialism.

Discussions at the event focused on the traumatic and social experiences of peoples subjected to colonial rule in various social and cultural contexts, structural problems stemming from the unlawful activities of colonial powers, and ongoing patterns of inequality. The conference also emphasized the importance of ensuring access to data for documenting, analyzing, and presenting these experiences on international platforms.

Additionally, the conference addressed the documentation of individual life stories and the dissemination of such materials on international platforms. Special emphasis was placed on examining the traumatic and psychological consequences of colonialism on subjugated peoples as subjects of scientific research. Discussions highlighted the integration of digital and academic platforms with the relevant virtual systems of international organizations and ensuring access for international research groups, experts, and judicial bodies studying colonialism.

This conference is historically significant as it is the first time anthropologists and psychotherapists have worked directly with populations affected by colonial subjugation. They conducted individual and group interviews, assessed traumatic experiences, documented life stories, and systematically recorded social, cultural, and psychological impacts. Presenting the collected data and documentation through digital platforms will increase academic and public awareness and facilitate coordination with international organizations.

In particular, this information will be synchronized with the UN and its relevant bodies, including the Special Committee on Decolonization (C-24), the Human Rights Council, and similar institutions, to keep issues such as unlawful practices in colonial territories, unequal distribution of resources, and violations of the rights of peoples living in colonial territories on the international agenda. The collected materials will serve as reliable and transparent sources of information for rapporteurs, experts, and courts cooperating with international organizations.

The conference also marked the presentation of the world's first Virtual Museum reflecting colonialism on a global scale. Created by the Baku Initiative Group, the Virtual Museum will be the first virtual platform in the world dedicated to colonialism and its new manifestations.