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Home , Bermuda, Decolonization, Falkland Islands, Guam, Saint Helena, Tokelau

i in consultation with United Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Peacebuilding and Political of Department Nations United the with consultation in General Published by the Department of Global Communications Communications Global of Department Nations United the by Published https://www.un.org/dppa/decolonization https://www.un.org/dppa/decolonization Ten FAQSs ontheUnited NationsandDecolonization For further information, please see please information, further For

– GDU 20-00033 and Decolonization United Nations on the Questions Asked Ten Frequently

ii General Table ofcontents Non-Self-Governing (NSGTs) Special CommitteeonDecolonization General process in the NSGTs? in the process decolonization the of examples recent the are What status? future its on deciding when have aNSGT does options What Power? administering an is What examples? recent the are What NSGTs? the of list in the aterritory including of process the is What Territories? these are where and aNSGT is What Committee? Special the of members the are Who do? Committee Special the does What in decolonization? Nations United the of role the is What decolonization? is What How can a NSGT be removed from the list of NSGTs? NSGTs? of list the from removed be aNSGT can How Ten FAQSs ontheUnited NationsandDecolonization . . .

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. . p p p p p p p p p p . . . 13 10 12 ...... 9 7 6 5 2 1 7 homeland is known as decolonization. decolonization. as known is homeland of their status future the decide to termination self-de to right their exercised territories these of peoples the which by The process aState. with or integration association, free chose territories other ; became territories colonial 80 than more decades, following the In Organization. of the purposes out the spelling in of peoples” self-determination and rights of equal principle the for "respect the to referred Nations United of the Charter the 1945, In Powers. dependent on colonial non-self-governing, were that Territories the in — lived world’s of the population a third almost — people million 750 established, was Nations United ago, when the ahalf-century than More 1. Whatisdecolonization? General and Decolonization United Nations on the Questions Asked Ten Frequently Ten FAQSs ontheUnited NationsandDecolonization

- 1 General 2 General Ten FAQSs ontheUnited NationsandDecolonization steps immediate of taking end and unconditional and aspeedy to of bringing necessity the proclaimed Assembly General the Declaration, this By on Decolonization”). “Declaration the Peoples and Countries Colonial to of Granting on the Declaration the adopted Assembly General UN the 1960, In 1994. in independent became and States United of the administration the under was which was Trust remaining last The State. aneighboring joined voluntarily have or States independent become either have which of all 11 Territories Trust originally were There Territories. Trust the of supervision and administration the XII in System Trusteeship International the established also The (NSGTs). Charter Territories Non-Self-Governing the with relations their in States Member guide that principles the peoples. of dependent interests the to devoted are which Charter the in chapters specific three from as well (2) 1 Article self- and rights of “equal principle on the based is decolonization in Nations United ofThe the role 2.  and the Trusteeship Council in the Trusteeship and United Nationsindecolonization? What istheroleof determination of peoples” as provided for in for in provided as of peoples” ­determination Chapter XI Chapter of the Charter of the United Nations, as as Nations, United of the of the Charter of the Charter established established Charter of the

Chapter XIII (known as as (known Chapter Chapter for for (PAIGC). (PAIGC). and Verde Cape -Bissau of Independence the for Party African the liberation movement, Territory’s the and of the of invitation the 1975: , TIAGO SAO PRAJA, General Assembly, the principal organ of the of the organ principal Assembly, the General The NSGTs. the in self-determination towards progress monitors currently Nations The United self-determination. to right the had peoples all that declared context, this in and, freedom and complete independence enjoy to them enable to order in territories of those people the to powers all transfer to independence, not attained had yet which territories other all and Territories, Non-Self-Governing and Trust in Ten FAQSs ontheUnited NationsandDecolonization

The C-24 visited Cape Verde at at Verde Cape visited C-24 The

UN Photo / Yutaka Nagata Yutaka / Photo UN 3 General Special Committee

on Decolonization 5

Ten FAQSs on the United Nations and Decolonization FAQSs Ten Making recommendations to the General usuallyAssembly, in the form draft of resolutions the on NSGTs and thematic issues; Reviewing the list the of NSGTs and where and appropriate, when recommending to the General Assembly that the conditions have been the for met removal a Territory of from the list. Examining the political, economic and social situation in the remaining NSGTs; on seminars regional annual Conducting decolonization in the or the Pacific; Hearing representatives the of NSGTs and individuals its annual at sessions held in ; Dispatching visiting missions to the NSGTs; What does the What does Special Committee do? Committee do? Special

» » Special Committee Committee Special on Decolonization 3.  SpecialThe Committee was established in 1961 in order to examine the application the of Declaration on Decolonization and to make suggestions and recommendations the on progress and extent of the implementation the of Declaration. currentThe focus the of the work of Special includes: Committee » » » » -

of the of General Special Political and (also theor known as “C-24” SpecialCommittee the on Situation

Ten FAQSs on the United Nations and Decolonization FAQSs Ten

UNITED NATIONS, , FEBRUARY 2018: Secretary-General António Guterres (centrethe left) opening addresses session of the Special Committee Decolonization. on items are considered by the Decolonization (Fourth) Committee Fourth The Assembly. Committee considers recommendations and prepares the of C-24 draft resolutions and decisions consideration for the of General Assembly. with regard to the implementation the of Declaration theon Granting Independence of Colonial of Countries and Peoples “Special Committee Decolonization”) on in 1961 as its subsidiary organ devoted to theissue decol of onization. Furthermore, the decolonization agenda United Nations which establishes overall guidance decolonizationon matters within the Organization, established the UN Photo / Eskinder Debebe Eskinder / Photo UN General 4 Non-Self-Governing

Territories (NSGTs) 7

, , , - - 1 ,

Tokelau American , , Virgin States United , British Virgin . , , , (Malvinas) Islands Falkland , Pitcairn , , , Western Western Ten FAQSs on the United Nations and Decolonization FAQSs Ten and , s A disputeA exists between the of and the Britain Great of and concerning over the Falkland Islands (Malvinas). What is a NSGT and where are these where are these and a NSGT What is a What is the process of including Territories? territory in the list of the NSGTs? What are the recent examples? French tering such Territories the or General In Assembly. 1946, a first list was established when eight Member States submitted the names Territories 72 of under 1  Non-Self-Governing Non-Self-Governing (NSGTs) Territories 5.  In the Charter, a NSGT is definedTerritory as a “whose peoples have yet attained not a full meas ure self-government.” of As 2020 at the following Territories 17 are the on list the of NSGTs: and CaicosTurks Islands Island 6.  decisionThe to a territory add to the list NSGTs of lies in the hands the of Member States adminis

UN Photo / Rie Kadota - During a visiting

Who are the members members are the Who of the Special Committee? Special of the to Montserrat, the C-24 delegation met with the , Joseph Mr. Farrell, and representatives of the territorialGovernment. , MONTSERRAT, DECEMBER 2019:

Ten FAQSs on the United Nations and Decolonization FAQSs Ten the Grenadines, , Syrian Arab , Timor-Leste, United , Republic of and (Bolivarian Republic of). and , (Plurinational State of), , , Côte Congo, d’Ivoire, , , , , , , , , Iran (Islamic Republic of), , , , , Russian , and , , Saint Vincent and Originallythe membershipcomprising was 17, enlargedin December 1962 This to 24. is the why SpecialCommittee is called the “Committee 24” of membership The increased four on subse “C-24”. or occasionsquent since then, and the Committee is now composed the of following 29 Member States: 4.  on Decolonization on

66

Special Committee Special

Non-Self-Governing

Territories (NSGTs) 9

- - - New Caledonia remained NSGTs, thereby Ten FAQSs on the United Nations and Decolonization FAQSs Ten How can a NSGT be removed from the be removed How can a NSGT list of NSGTs? list of NSGTs? taking into consideration the particular circum stances in the respective Territory. One example suchof a process is Timor-Leste): (now On 1 2002, the General the on Assembly, basis theof Special Committee’s recommendation, decided to “remove East Timor from the list of NSGTs upon its accession In to independence.” their administration, which they considered to be non-self-governing. list The has changed over time, including the when General Assembly added the Portuguese territoriesin 1960 and Southern in 1962. In 1963, the General Assembly approved a revised list which included 60 NSGTs. In addition, in 1986 and 2013, respectively, the General Assembly affirmed that and effectively “re-listing” them (both Territories had been the on list NSGTs of from 1946 to 1947). 7.  Similar to the “listing” process described above, the General Assemblyhas the authority to deter minewhether Territorya has exercised its right to self-determination, example, for through a referendum, and should hence be removed from the list NSGTs of (“de-listing”). When appropriate, this determination is made, based upon a recom mendation by the Special Committee. General The Assemblyfollows a “case-by-case” approach

UN Photo / Amanda Voisard

UNITED NATIONS, NEW YORK, 2016: The Special Political and Decolonization Committee hears statements by representatives of Non-Self-Governing Territories and petitioners. 8 Non-Self-Governing 10 Territories (NSGTs) Bermuda for Power administering the is Kingdom for Power administering the is Polynesia French for Power administering the is Currently, NSGTs. the in conditions on information Nations United the to transmit to and peoples” of the aspirations political of the account due take to “self-government, develop to accept Powers administering NSGTs, of the inhabitants” of the well-being utmost…the the to “promote to Charter the in to referred trust sacred the from arising obligations of the part As Powers. tering adminis called are NSGTs of the administration for the responsibilities have which States Member 8.  of NSGTs. list the it from remove to abasis provides and aNSGT as considered longer no is concerned Territory the that indication an as understood generally is of information mission trans the cease to decision This Charter. UN of the under Powers ment for administering arequire Territory, respective the in conditions on Nations United the to information transmit to obliged no longer was Power administering the that considered Assembly General the cases, other Ten FAQSs ontheUnited NationsandDecolonization What isanadministeringPower? , British Virgin British and and New Caledonia New , Cayman Islands Cayman ; Zealand New ; the United United ; the Article 73 Article Anguilla e - - - , ,

UN Photo/JohnIsaac 2 Territory. said the of administration the with connection in international of an responsibility any from exempt itself it considered Territory, the in presence its of termination the following that, Nations United of the Secretary-General the informed 1976 Islands Virgin Samoa American for Power administering the is States United the Pitcairn Falkland Islands (Malvinas) (Malvinas). Islands Falkland the over sovereignty concerning Ireland Northern and of Kingdom United the and of Argentina Governments the between exists A dispute with colorful rallies in Windhoek Athletic Stadium. Athletic Windhoek in rallies colorful with independence of day first their celebrate of 1990: MARCH NAMIBIA, WINDHOEK, , Saint Helena Saint Ten FAQSs ontheUnited NationsandDecolonization . With regard to to regard . With , Guam and and and the the and Turks Caicos and , 2

Gibraltar The people people The United States , Montserrat

, in , in ; ,

11 Territories (NSGTs) Territories

Non-Self-Governing Non-Self-Governing 12 Territories (NSGTs) Ten FAQSs ontheUnited NationsandDecolonization State. independent an with association free or integration chose some while determination, of self- of attainment form common most the as to resorted been has independence past, the In people." that by of self-determination right the of implementing "modes constituted people” a by determined freely status political other any into “emergence the and above mentioned options three the that stated Assembly General Nations United of the Charter the with accordance in States among Cooperation and Relations Friendly concerning Law International 1970, the In by » » » by: of self-government” “full measure (XV) to According 9. 

when decidingonitsfuturestatus? What optionsdoesaNSGT have Integration with an independent State. independent an with Integration State; independent an with association Free State; independent asovereign as Emergence of 1960, a NSGT can be said to have reached a a reached have to said be can aNSGT of 1960, General Assembly resolution 1541 1541 resolution Assembly General Declaration on Principles of of on Principles Declaration

, the the , ­ In February 2006 and October 2007, October and 2006 February In Tokelau of Timor-Leste. Republic Democratic the as 2002 on 27 UN of the Member as admitted was and independent, became Timor East government, democratically-elected the to UN the from authority of hand-over the following 2002, May 20 On ence. independ towards of transition aprocess begin to wish their autonomy expressed and special posed pro the reject to voted voters of the amajority and Nations United the by Timor East in conducted was consultation popular the 1999, In independence. or Indonesia autonomy within between choosing by self-determination to right their exercise to opportunity an with Timor of East people the providing UN, the and them between and Portugal and Indonesia between 1999 on 5May signed were later, Agreements years 40 Over Portugal. by tered adminis Territories other with along resolution, of a adoption the through 1960 in of NSGTs list its to Timor East added Assembly The General tion. administra transitional of UN years 2.5 following State, independent an became 2002 in which Timor, East was status its change to NSGT recent The most East Timor 10.  under the administration of New Zealand, held two two held Zealand, of New administration the under in theNSGTs? of thedecolonizationprocess What aretherecentexamples Ten FAQSs ontheUnited NationsandDecolonization Tokelau

, a NSGT , a NSGT - - - -

13 Territories (NSGTs) Territories

Non-Self-Governing Non-Self-Governing 14 Territories (NSGTs)

UN / Ariane Rummery Ten FAQSs ontheUnited NationsandDecolonization option the cent of voters, of per 81 aturnout With of 1998: Accord Nouméa the with accordance in 2018 on 4 November independence and sovereignty full to on accession a referendum held of France, Caledonia New New Caledonia Zealand. New with cooperation in needs development various on addressing focusing Tokelau been has then, Since of NSGTs. list on the remains Tokelau, at therefore, 2020, As Zealand. New with association free in self-government Tokelau’s to change to status threshold majority two-thirds required the of producing short just fell events Both status. future its decide to referenda , a NSGT under the administration administration the under , aNSGT with New Zealand. Zealand. New with association free in self-government on referendum second Tokelau the during aballot casts resident A local 2007: OCTOBER TOKELAU, ,

preparing for the 2018 referendum. referendum. 2018 for the preparing period critical its 2014 during 2018 in and Caledonia New to missions visiting The two C-24 dispatched created. thus situation the consider to meet to have then would concerned parties the referenda, three all in rejected be independence Should 2022. and 2020 in question same on the referenda more of two holding possible for the provides Accord favour. cent The in per 43 approximately and independence, and sovereignty full to accession the against cast cent of 57 votes per nearly with rejected, was independence and sovereignty of full self-determination. on referendum first the during Caledonia, New Nouméa, in 2018: NOVEMBER CALEDONIA, NEW NOUMÉA, Ten FAQSs ontheUnited NationsandDecolonization

A polling station station A polling UN Photo / Tadjoudine Ali-Diabacte Tadjoudine / Photo UN 15 Non-Self-Governing Territories

U.S.A. UNITED KINGDOM

FRANCE UNITED STATES Bermuda OF AMERICA Gibraltar

Turks and Caicos Islands

British Virgin Islands Western Sahara Cayman Islands Anguilla Guam United States Virgin Islands Montserrat

Tokelau

French Polynesia New Caledonia

Pitcairn Saint Helena NEW ZEALAND

Falkland Islands (Malvinas)*

Non-Self-Governing Territories Administering Powers

UNITED NATIONS The boundaries and names shown and the designations used on this map do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations. Office of Information and Communications Technology Map No.4175 Rev.6 2020 *A dispute exists between the Governments of Argentina and the United Kingdom of Great Britian and Northern Ireland concerning sovereignty over the Falkland Islands (Malvinas). Geospatial Information Section