The 142nd session of the UN Human Rights Committee (HRC) is ongoing in the Geneva office of the UN, Paralel.Az reports.

According to the report, within the framework of the session, the country report on the implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights of a number of countries, as well as France, will be heard.

A meeting for the interested parties was held at the Human Rights Committee on October 21, a day before France's national report. The Baku Initiative Group and the delegation of New Caledonia and French Polynesia participated in the meeting. BIG Executive Director Abbas Abbasov delivered a statement to the committee.

In the statement, Abbas Abbasov condemned the illegal referendum held by France in New Caledonia and denounced France's desire to forcibly change the electoral code here. He emphasized that more than 10 people were killed and about 400 people were injured in New Caledonia as a result of this step of France, which caused the protest of the Kanak people.

In addition, Abbas Abbasov drew attention to the serious damage to the health of the local people due to France's nuclear tests in Polynesia. It was stated that the people of French Polynesia desire independence, and France's resistance to it hinders the implementation of UN Resolution No. 67/265.

Abbas Abbasov also talked about historical injustice, economic difficulties and lack of sovereignty in other territories under French rule.

He also gave detailed information about his work on international platforms in the field of struggle against colonialism as the chairman of the Non-Aligned Movement of Azerbaijan and currently a member of the Troika.

Abbas Abbasov called for a new referendum to be held in New Caledonia under the supervision of the UN, to withdraw French military forces from this country, and to assess the situation here by the UN Special Decolonization Committee.

At the same time, he demanded the payment of compensation by France to French Polynesia for the nuclear tests, and called to recognize the right of self-determination of the peoples of New Caledonia and French Polynesia. He emphasized the need for the UN to monitor this process.

It should be noted that according to the Covenant, the countries that have joined the document must promote and respect the right to self-determination of the peoples living in the territories they de facto colonize in accordance with the UN Charter.

It should be recalled that the Baku Initiative Group (BIG) submitted an alternative report to the UN Human Rights Committee exposing the colonial policy of France. That report was published on the official website of the UN Human Rights Committee.

https://tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/15/treatybodyexternal/SessionDetails1.aspx?SessionID=2737&Lang=en.