Special Committee on Decolonization

When the United Nations was created, there were 750 million people living in territories that were non-self-governing. However, the Charter of the United Nations included, in Chapter XI, provisions calling for recognition of the rights of inhabitants of territories administered by its Member States. It called for these Member States to aid in the establishment of self-governance through the development of free political institutions, as well as to keep in mind the political aspirations of the people.{{cite web |url=http://www.un.org/en/sections/un-charter/chapter-xi/index.html |title=Chapter XI |author= |date=n.d. |website=United Nations |access-date=11 March 2019}}{{cite web |url=https://www.un.org/Depts/dpi/decolonization/history.htm |title=History |author= |date=n.d. |website=United Nations Department of Public Information |publisher=United Nations |access-date=11 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081222055429/https://www.un.org/Depts/dpi/decolonization/history.htm |archive-date=22 December 2008 |url-status=dead}}

The Charter also created, in Chapter XII, the international trusteeship system. This system allowed for the administration and supervision of territories placed under the control of the United Nations by Member States wishing to grant independence to their colonial possessions. These "Trust" territories were administered by the United Nations Trusteeship Council, which was created by Chapter XIII of the Charter.{{cite web |url=http://www.un.org/en/sections/un-charter/chapter-xii/index.html |title=Chapter XII |author= |date=n.d. |website=United Nations |access-date=11 March 2019}}{{cite web |url=http://www.un.org/en/sections/un-charter/chapter-xiii/index.html |title=Chapter XIII |author= |date=n.d. |website=United Nations |access-date=11 March 2019}}

Hoping to speed up the process of decolonization, the General Assembly passed Resolution 1514 (XV), also known as the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. The Declaration stated that all peoples have the right to self-determination and that immediate steps should be taken to end colonialism unconditionally.{{UN doc |docid=A/RES/1514(XV) |body=A |session=15 |type=R |resolution_number=1514 |title=Declaration on the granting of independence to colonial countries and peoples |date=14 December 1960 |accessdate=11 March 2019}}

On 27 November 1961, the General Assembly created the precursor to the Special Committee by Resolution 1654 (XVI), which established a Special Committee of 17 member states to examine the application of the Declaration and to make recommendations on how to better implement it. The original member states were:{{UN doc |docid=A/RES/1654(XVI) |body=A |session=16 |type=R |resolution_number=1654 |title=The situation with regard to the implementation of the Declaration on the granting of independence to colonial countries and peoples |date=27 November 1961 |accessdate=11 March 2019}}

{{div col}}

• {{flagcountry|Australia}}
• {{flagcountry|Cambodia}}
• {{flagcountry|Ethiopian Empire|name=Ethiopian Empire}}
• {{flagcountry|India}}
• {{flagcountry|Italy}}
• {{flagcountry|Madagascar}}
• {{flagcountry|Mali}}
• {{flagcountry|Polish People's Republic|name=Polish People's Republic}}
• {{flagcountry|Soviet Union}}
• {{flagcountry|Syrian Republic}}
• {{flagcountry|Tanganyika (1961–1964)}}
• {{flagcountry|Tunisia|1959}}
• {{flagcountry|United Kingdom}}
• {{flagcountry|United States}}
• {{flagcountry|Uruguay}}
• {{flagcountry|Venezuela|1954}}
• {{flagcountry|Yugoslavia}}

{{div col end}}

On 7 December 1962, the General Assembly added seven seats to the committee, bringing the total number of member states up to 24.{{UN doc |docid=A/RES/1810(XVII) |body=A |session=17 |type=R |resolution_number=1810 |title=The Situation with Regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples |date=7 December 1962 |accessdate=11 March 2019}} The number increased again in 2004, 2008, and 2010.{{cite journal |editor1-last=Manhire |editor1-first=Vanessa |date=2018 |title=United Nations Handbook 2018–19 |journal=United Nations Handbook:: An Annual Guide for Those Working within the United Nations |url=https://www.mfat.govt.nz/assets/Handbooks/UN-Handbook-2018-19-pdf.pdf |edition=56th |location=Wellington |publisher=Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of New Zealand |pages=63–64 |issn=0110-1951}} The number 24 continues to be used when describing the Committee even though it now has 29 member states.

{{Further|International Decades for the Eradication of Colonialism}}

In 1990, the General Assembly proclaimed 1990–2000 as the First International Decades for the Eradication of Colonialism by Resolution 43/47, with the ultimate goal being the full implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. The General Assembly adopted the report of the Secretary-General dated 13 December 1991 as the Plan of Action for the Decade.{{UN doc |docid=A/RES/43/47 |body=A |session=43 |type=R |resolution_number=47 |title=International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism |date=22 November 1988 |accessdate=11 March 2019}}{{UN doc |docid=A/46/634/Rev.1 |body=A |session=46 |type= Report of the Secretary-General |resolution_number=634 Rev. 1|title=Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples |date=13 December 1991 |accessdate=11 March 2019}}

On 8 December 2000, the General Assembly proceeded to proclaim the Second International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism, lasting from 2001 to 2010 via Resolution 55/146. The Resolution called upon Member States to redouble their efforts to implement the Plan of Action during the Second Decade.{{UN doc |docid=A/RES/55/146 |body=A |session=55 |type=R |resolution_number=146 |title=Second International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism |date=8 December 2000 |accessdate=11 March 2019}}

On 10 December 2010, the General Assembly proclaimed 2010–2020 as the Third International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism via Resolution 65/119. The Resolution called upon Member States to intensify their efforts to continue to implement the Plan of Action during the Third Decade.{{UN doc |docid=A/RES/65/119 |body=A |session=65 |type=R |resolution_number=119 |title=Third International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism |date=10 December 2010 |accessdate=11 March 2019}}

In 2020, the General Assembly proclaimed 2021–2030 as the Fourth International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism via Resolution 75/123.[https://www.un.org/dppa/decolonization/en/history/international-decades United Nations: International Decades for the Eradication of Colonialism]

The Committee holds its main session in New York in June, as well as an annual seminar in the Caribbean and Pacific in alternate years. In 2018, the seminar was held in St. George's, Grenada.

At each main session, the Committee reviews the list of territories to which the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples is applicable and makes recommendations on its implementation and on the dissemination of public information on decolonization to the local population. It also hears statements from Non-Self-Governing Territories (NSGTs), dispatches missions to these NSGTs and organizes seminars on the political, social and economic situation in the NSGTs.

The Committee reports to the General Assembly on its work through the Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization).{{cite web |url=https://digitallibrary.un.org/record/1627951/files/A_72_19-EN.pdf |title=General Assembly and Peacekeeping |author= |date=n.d. |website=United Nations |access-date=9 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171009193143/http://www.un.org/en/peacekeeping/ctte/CTTEE.htm |archive-date=9 October 2017 |url-status=dead}}

{{See also|United Nations list of non-self-governing territories#Current entries}}

Currently, there are 17 territories on the United Nations list of non-self-governing territories.{{Cite web |url=https://www.un.org/dppa/decolonization/en/nsgt |title=Non-Self-Governing Territories |website=UN.org |access-date=11 January 2024}}

These territories do not have representation equivalent to other regions of their parent states. {{As of|2021|12}}, several have rejected a change of status through referendums, such as New Caledonia in 2018, 2020,{{Cite news|date=2020-10-04|title=New Caledonia referendum: South Pacific territory rejects independence from France|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-54410059|access-date=2021-06-13}} and 2021, the Falkland Islands in 2013,{{Cite news|title = Falklands referendum: Voters choose to remain UK territory|url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21750909|website = BBC News|access-date = 2016-01-03|first1 = Defence correspondent|last1 = Caroline Wyatt|first2 = |last2 = |date = 2013-03-12}} and Gibraltar in 2002.{{Cite news |title= Gibraltar Rejects Power-Sharing Between Britain and Spain |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2002/11/08/world/gibraltar-rejects-power-sharing-between-britain-and-spain.html|newspaper = The New York Times|date = 2002-11-08|access-date = 2016-01-03|issn = 0362-4331|first = Emma|last = Daly}} Likewise, in 2013, the elected Assembly of French Polynesia opposed the territory's inclusion in the list.[http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/212251/tahiti-assembly-votes-against-un-decolonisation-bid "Tahiti assembly votes against UN decolonisation bid"], Radio New Zealand International, 17 May 2013 Others, such as Guam, have voted for a change in status but been refused by their colonising state.{{citation needed|date=January 2024}}

File:Special Committee on Decolonization Member States.svg

The following are the current member states of the committee:{{cite web |url=https://www.un.org/en/decolonization/members.shtml |title=Members |author= |date=n.d. |website=United Nations and Decolonization |publisher=United Nations |access-date=11 March 2019}}

{{div col}}

• {{flagcountry|Antigua and Barbuda}}
• {{flagcountry|Bolivia}}
• {{flagcountry|Chile}}
• {{flagcountry|China}}
• {{flagcountry|Congo}}
• {{flagcountry|Ivory Coast|name=Côte d'Ivoire}}
• {{flagcountry|Cuba}}
• {{flagcountry|Dominica}}
• {{flagcountry|Ecuador}}
• {{flagcountry|Ethiopia}}*
• {{flagcountry|Fiji}}
• {{flagcountry|Grenada}}
• {{flagcountry|India}}*
• {{flagcountry|Indonesia}}
• {{flagcountry|Iran}}
• {{flagcountry|Iraq}}
• {{flagcountry|Mali}}*
• {{flagcountry|Nicaragua}}
• {{flagcountry|Papua New Guinea}}
• {{flagcountry|Russia}}*
• {{flagcountry|Saint Kitts and Nevis}}
• {{flagcountry|Saint Lucia}}
• {{flagcountry|Saint Vincent and the Grenadines}}
• {{flagcountry|Sierra Leone}}
• {{flagcountry|Syria}}*
• {{flagcountry|Tanzania}}*
• {{flagcountry|East Timor|name=Timor-Leste}}
• {{flagcountry|Tunisia}}*
• {{flagcountry|Venezuela}}*

{{div col end}}

* Original member state

Territories with independence movements are disputed for their qualification as colonial countries and their admission for decolonization. Various current and previous member states on various occasions have disputed and blocked the admission and re-admission of their respective territories for decolonization.{{cite web |url=https://www.owlapps.net/owlapps_apps/articles?id=38878678&lang=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210613112334/https://www.owlapps.net/owlapps_apps/articles?id=38878678&lang=en |url-status=usurped |archive-date=13 June 2021 |website=Owl Apps |title=Special Committee on Decolonization |access-date=1 October 2021}}

• China has blocked the admission of Hong Kong, Inner Mongolia, Macao, Tibet, and Xinjiang as non-self-governing territories.{{Citation needed|date=October 2021}} China considers Hong Kong and Macao as territories forcibly ceded to European powers, the territories are possessions rather than colonies, and that China enjoys sovereignty over these territories. China claims that these regions are currently self-governed and are generally not considered colonial holdings.{{cite web |title=Regional Autonomy for Ethnic Minorities in China |url=http://www.china-un.ch/eng/rqrd/jblc/t187368.htm |publisher=Permanent Mission of the People's Republic of China to the United Nations Office at Geneva and Other International Organizations in Switzerland |access-date=12 June 2021}} However, the annexations of Tibet and Xinjiang led to their current status as autonomous regions of China, and there have been various accounts of forced sterilization and abortion in Tibet and Xinjiang, forced labor and internment in Xinjiang, and forced assimilation, political control, and stripping of political representation to people of all these regions.{{cite news |last1=Master |first1=Farah |title=In Macau, Portuguese elites feel squeezed out by Chinese influence |date=5 October 2018 |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-macau-china-law/in-macau-portuguese-elites-feel-squeezed-out-by-chinese-influence-idUSKCN1MF0OQ |work=Reuters |access-date=12 June 2021}}{{cite web |last1=Tsung-gan |first1=Kong |title=Mainlandization: How the Communist Party works to control and assimilate Hong Kong |date=15 October 2017 |url=https://hongkongfp.com/2017/10/15/mainlandization-communist-party-works-control-assimilate-hong-kong/ |publisher=Hong Kong Free Press |access-date=12 June 2021}}{{cite magazine |last1=Khatchadourian |first1=Raffi |title=Surviving the Crackdown in Xinjiang |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/04/12/surviving-the-crackdown-in-xinjiang |magazine=The New Yorker |access-date=12 June 2021}}{{cite web |title=The CCP Extends its Policy of Assimilation to Inner Mongolia |url=https://jamestown.org/program/the-ccp-extends-its-policies-of-forced-ethnic-assimilation-to-inner-mongolia |website=Jamestown |access-date=12 June 2021}}{{cite news |title=Witnesses to China's Shame |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/opinions/1989/02/26/witness-to-chinas-shame/d1862427-84f9-4209-9e15-ec7c6dcd3f0e/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=12 June 2021}}{{cite web |last1=Maizland |first1=Lindsay |title=China's Repression of Uyghurs in Xinjiang |url=https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/chinas-repression-uyghurs-xinjiang |website=cfr |publisher=Council on Foreign Relations |access-date=12 June 2021}}

• Russia has disputed at least 26 territories as colonial countries from admissions for decolonization.{{Citation needed|date=June 2021}} Among these Russian territories are Adygea, Altai, Bashkortostan, Buryatia, Chechnya, Chukotka, Chuvashia, Crimea, Dagestan, Ingushetia, Kabardino-Balkaria, Kalmykia, Karachay-Cherkessia, Karelia, Khakassia, Khanty-Mansi, Komi, Mari El, Mordovia, Nenets, North Ossetia–Alania, Sakha (Yakutia), Tatarstan, Tuva, Udmurtia, and Yamalo-Nenets.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/15/russia-fledgling-independence-movements|title=From Siberia to Kaliningrad: the fledgling independence movements gaining traction in Russia|first1=Paul Goble for Window on|last1=Eurasia|first2=part of the New East|last2=network|date=15 August 2014|website=The Guardian|access-date=23 August 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.fairobserver.com/region/north_america/russia-separatist-movements/|title=Russia's Separatist Movements – Fair Observer|website=fairobserver.com|access-date=23 August 2018|date=2013-07-13}}{{Failed verification|date=June 2021}} Historically, forced ethnic migrations have been conducted to retain control over certain territories.{{cite web|url=http://ieg-ego.eu/en/threads/europe-on-the-road/forced-ethnic-migration|title= Forced Ethnic Migration|access-date=23 August 2018}} Though these territories enjoyed varying degrees of self-governance through sovereignty pacts reached with the Russian Federation, these pacts have since expired, and regional autonomy has gradually eroded.{{Cite web|date=1994-02-18|title=Tatarstan Reaches Pact With Moscow, Drops Sovereignty Bid|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-02-18-mn-24480-story.html|access-date=2021-06-02|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Smirnova |first=Lena |date=2017-07-25 |title=Tatarstan, the Last Region to Lose Its Special Status Under Putin |url=https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2017/07/25/tatarstan-special-status-expires-a58483 |access-date=2022-06-06 |website=The Moscow Times |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Russian 'Federalism' Now Means As Little As It Did In Soviet Times |url=https://www.interpretermag.com/russian-federalism-now-means-as-little-as-it-did-in-soviet-times/ |access-date=2022-06-06 |website=www.interpretermag.com}}

• The United Kingdom has hindered the British Indian Ocean Territory from decolonization by detaching the Chagos Archipelago from Mauritius.{{Cn|date=December 2022}} The United Nations General Assembly passed Resolution 2066 on 16 December 1965, which stated its belief that this detachment of part of the colonial territory of Mauritius was against customary international law as recorded earlier in the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples of 14 December 1960. This stated that "Any attempt aimed at the partial or total disruption of the national unity and the territorial integrity of a country is incompatible with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations".{{Citation needed|date=December 2022}}

• The United States retains Puerto Rico as an unincorporated organized territory, which the committee has deemed insufficient in providing them self-determination. However, its Commonwealth status compelled the committee to remove it from the United Nations list of non-self-governing territories in 1952. Despite the United States Virgin Islands being on the list of Non-Self Governing Territories, 81.60% of the voters voted to remain as a U.S. territory with only 13.44% wanting "integration with the U.S." and 4.96% preferring independence in the 1993 United States Virgin Islands status referendum that was albeit invalidated due to less than half of the eligible voters turning out.{{Citation needed|date=December 2022}}

Various organizations including the British delegates claimed that the committee is 'no longer relevant' to the United Kingdom Overseas Territories as many of its member states are colonizers themselves, controlling various territories wanting independence.{{cite web|url=https://www.un.org/press/en/2012/gaspd507.doc.htm|title=Special Committee on Decolonization 'No Longer Relevant' to Overseas Territories of United Kingdom, Fourth Committee Told – Meetings Coverage and Press Releases|website=un.org|access-date=23 August 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.un.org/press/en/1997/19970530.gaco2960.html|title=Special Committee on Decolonization Would Urge Secretary-General to Maintain All Functions of Decolonization Unit of Political Affairs Department – Meetings Coverage and Press Releases|website=un.org|access-date=23 August 2018}}{{cite journal|title=Defending Empire at the United Nations: The Politics of International Colonial Oversight in the Era of Decolonisation|first=Jessica Lynne|last=Pearson|date=4 May 2017|journal=The Journal of Imperial and Commonwealth History|volume=45|issue=3|pages=525–549|doi=10.1080/03086534.2017.1332133|doi-access=free}}

The following make up the bureau of the Special Committee for the 73rd Session of the General Assembly:

The Special Committee on Decolonization refers to the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (an unincorporated organized territory of the United States) as a nation in its reports, because, internationally, the people of Puerto Rico are often considered to be a Caribbean nation with their own national identity.{{Cite book

|title=Report of the Special Committee on the Situation with Regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples

|volume=23

|author=United Nations. General Assembly. Special Committee on the Situation With Regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples

|publisher=United Nations Publications

|year=1971

|isbn=978-92-1-810211-9

|pages=[https://books.google.com/books?id=4nEyLDpKZjMC&pg=PA10 10–11]

|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4nEyLDpKZjMC

}}[http://www.nam.gov.za/media/040820.pdf XIV Ministerial Conference of the Movement of Non-Aligned Nations. Durban, South Africa, 2004. See pages 14–15.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090731065406/http://www.nam.gov.za/media/040820.pdf |date=31 July 2009 }} Most recently, in a June 2016 report, the Special Committee called for the United States to expedite the process to allow self-determination in Puerto Rico. More specifically, the group called on the United States to expedite a process that would allow the people of Puerto Rico to exercise fully their right to self-determination and independence. ... [and] allow the Puerto Rican people to take decisions in a sovereign manner and to address their urgent economic and social needs, including unemployment, marginalization, insolvency and poverty".{{cite web |url=https://www.un.org/press/en/2016/gacol3296.doc.htm |title=Special Committee on Decolonization Approves Text Calling upon United States Government to Expedite Self-Determination Process for Puerto Rico |author= |date=20 June 2016 |website=United Nations |publisher=UN |access-date=21 February 2017}} However, the Special Committee removed Puerto Rico from the list of non-self-governing territories in 1952 due to it gaining Commonwealth status in the United States.

In one of the referendums on the political status of Puerto Rico held in 2012, only 5.49% of Puerto Ricans voted for independence, while 61.16% voted for statehood and 33.34% preferred free association. Another then-recent referendum was held in 2017 with over 97% voting in favor of statehood over independence, though historically low voter turn-out (23%) has called into question the validity of the poll. Much of the low turn-out has been attributed to a boycott led by the pro-status-quo PPD party and the pro-independence PIP party.{{cite web|url=http://caribbeanbusiness.com/pdp-to-boycott-status-referendum/|title=PDP to boycott status referendum|date=20 April 2017}} A 2020 referendum also backed statehood 53 percent to 47 percent, with 55 percent turnout.{{cite web |last1=Budryk |first1=Zack |title=Puerto Rico votes in favor of US statehood |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/524590-puerto-rico-votes-in-favor-of-us-statehood |website=The Hill |date=5 November 2020 |access-date=9 December 2020}}

On June 22, 2023, while Puerto Rico currently enjoys the status of a free state associated with the United States, the UN Special Committee once again calls on the Government of the United States to assume its responsibility and to take measures that allow the Puerto Rican people to exercise their right to self-determination and independence, as well as to make sovereign decisions, in order to urgently meet the economic and social needs of the country.{{cite web |last1=United |first1=Nation |title=Special Committee on Decolonization Approves Resolution Reaffirming Puerto Rico's Inalienable Right to Self-determination, Independence|url=https://press.un.org/fr/2023/agcol3372.doc.htm |website=United Nation |date=22 June 2023 |access-date=2 July 2023}}

In June 2024, around twenty independence and sovereignist organizations spoke on Puerto Rico during a session of the United Nations Decolonization Committee. The committee affirmed Puerto Rico's right to self-determination and independence. In July 2024, Governor Pedro Pierluisi called a plebiscite on the status of Puerto Rico in November 2024, for the first time the island's current status as a U.S. territory will not be an option during the non-binding plebiscite. The executive order follows the U.S. House of Representatives 2022 approval of a bill to help Puerto Rico move toward a change in territorial status. Voters are given the choice of statehood, independence, or independence with free association, the terms of which would be negotiated regarding foreign affairs, U.S. citizenship, and use of the U.S. dollar.{{Cite web|title=Puerto Rico will include status plebiscite in November's general elections|website=Associated Press News |date=July 2024 |url=https://apnews.com/article/puerto-rico-status-plebiscite-election-e763c4d11e10a42fb557bd1bbd722614}}

• Dependent territory
• Proposed political status for Puerto Rico
• Sovereigntism (Puerto Rico)
• Special Political and Decolonization Committee
• United Nations list of non-self-governing territories

{{reflist|group="note"}}

{{notelist}}

{{reflist}}

• [https://www.un.org/ United Nations official website]
• [https://www.un.org/dppa/decolonization/en/c24/about United Nations Decolonization Committee home page]

{{United Nations list of non-self-governing territories}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Organizations established in 1961

Category:United Nations General Assembly subsidiary organs

Category:Decolonization