Legal experts from African nations and diaspora communities called on European governments to address colonialism’s long-standing impacts at the Dekoloniale Berlin Africa Conference, held on Monday.
The delegation, comprising legal scholars, human rights activists, and policy advocates, presented a 10-point list of demands addressing human rights, reparations, migration, economic justice, trade, and anti-racism measures. Central to the demands was a call for formal recognition of colonial-era injustices, which the experts argued constitute international human rights law violations. The panel highlighted that the legacies of colonialism, including economic exploitation, systemic racism, and cultural erasure, continue to affect African nations and communities worldwide.
The delegates argued that addressing these issues requires legal redress and concrete policy changes by European states following their commitments under international treaties such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (ICESCR).
One of the key items in the list of demands is the issue of financial and non-financial reparations. The experts emphasised that reparations should include monetary compensation and the return of cultural artefacts and human remains currently held in European museums. The delegation cited international legal precedents, including the UN General Assembly resolutions on decolonisation, to argue that restitution is necessary for the broader effort to address historical injustices. Notably, a 2023 UN Human Rights Office report similarly advocated for monetary and other reparations for people of African descent in response to the continuing effect of colonialism.
The conference also addressed the ongoing impact of colonial-era trade policies, which, according to the experts, have entrenched economic inequalities between European and African nations. Experts called for revising existing trade agreements that continue to disadvantage African economies, violating the principles of fairness and non-discrimination enshrined in international economic law.
In addition to economic and cultural reparations, the panel highlighted the need for comprehensive migration reform. They argued that European migration policies, which often discriminate against African nationals, reflect a continuation of colonial-era biases. The delegation called on European governments to align their migration frameworks with international human rights standards, particularly the principles of equality and non-refoulement outlined in the Refugee Convention.
The demands presented at the Dekoloniale Berlin Africa Conference reflect a broader movement within the international legal community to address colonialism’s ongoing impacts. By framing these issues through the lens of the rule of law, the Conference underscored the legal obligations of European states to engage in meaningful dialogue and take concrete steps towards redress of their colonial pasts.
