Important Legal Conventions, Declarations, and Filings
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
Key UN Documents Related to Decolonization
There are numerous UN documents related to non-self-governing territories, self-determination, decolonization and related topics. This list highlights some of the most widely cited documents.
Charter of the United Nations
- Chapter XI, Articles 73-74: Declaration regarding Non-Self Governing Territories
- Chapter XII, Articles 75-85: International Trusteeship System
- Chapter XIII, Articles 86-91: Trusteeship Council
General Assembly Resolutions
- Non-self-governing peoples
- A/RES/9 (I) of 9 Feb. 1946
- Transmission of Information under Article 73e of the Charter
- A/RES/66 (I) of 14 Dec. 1946
- Participation of the Non-Self-Governing Territories in the work of the United Nations and of the specialized agencies
- A/RES/1466 (XIV) of 12 Dec. 1959
- Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples
- A/RES/1514 (XV) of 14 Dec. 1960
- Procedural History in the Audiovisual Library of International Law
- Principles which should guide Members in determining whether or not an obligation exists to transmit the information called for under Article 73e of the Charter
- A/RES/1541 (XV) of 15 Dec. 1960
- The situation with regard to the implementation of the Declaration on the granting of independence to colonial countries and peoples
- A/RES/1654 (XVI) of 27 Nov. 1961
- Permanent sovereignty over natural resources
- A/RES/1803 (XVII) of 14 Dec. 1962
- Procedural History in the Audiovisual Library of International Law
- Strict observance of the prohibition of the threat or use of force in international relations, and of the right of peoples to self-determination
- A/RES/2160 (XXI) of 30 Nov. 1966
- International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
- A/RES/2200 (XXI) of 16 Dec. 1966
- Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations
- A/RES/2625 (XXV) of 24 Oct. 1970
- Declaration on the Establishment of a New International Economic Order
- A/RES/3201 (S-VI) of 1 May 1974
- Programme of Action on the Establishment of a New International Economic Order
- A/RES/3202 (S-VI) of 1 May 1974
- Charter of Economic Rights and Duties of States
- A/RES/3281 (XXIX) of 12 Dec. 1974
- Declaration on the Right to Development
- A/RES/41/128 of 4 Dec. 1986
- International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism (1990-2000)
- A/RES/43/47 of 22 Nov. 1988
- Second International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism (2001-2010)
- A/RES/55/146 of 8 Dec. 2000
- United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
- A/RES/61/295 of 13 Sep. 2007
- Third International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism (2011-2020)
- A/RES/65/119 of 10 Dec. 2010
Human Rights Bodies Documents
- Human Rights Committee
- General Comment No. 12 on the right to self-determination, CCPR/C/21/Rev.1, pages 10-12
- Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD)
- General Recommendation No. 21 on the right to self-determination, A/51/18, pages 125-126
- Reports of the Special Rapporteur of the Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities
- The right to self-determination : historical and current development on the basis of United Nations instruments : study prepared by Aureliu Cristescu
- The right to self-determination : implementation of United Nations resolutions : study prepared by Héctor Gros Espiell
- E/CN.4/Sub.2/405/Rev.1 + Corr.1
- Includes extensive multilingual bibliography
Reports of the Secretariat or Secretary-General related to Decolonization
There are several recurrent reports prepared by the Secretariat or issued by the Secretary-General including:
- Dissemination of information on decolonization
- Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples by the specialized agencies and the International institutions associated with the United Nations
- Information from Non-Self-Governing Territories transmitted under Article 73e of the Charter of the United Nations
- Offers by Member States of study and training facilities for inhabitants of Non-Self-Governing Territories
- Right of peoples to self-determination
- Working papers on individual territories
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
Adopted and opened for signature, ratification and accession by General Assembly resolution 2200A (XXI) of 16 December 1966
entry into force 23 March 1976, in accordance with Article 49
PART I
Article 1
1. All peoples have the right of self-determination. By virtue of that right they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development.
2. All peoples may, for their own ends, freely dispose of their natural wealth and resources without prejudice to any obligations arising out of international economic co-operation, based upon the principle of mutual benefit, and international law. In no case may a people be deprived of its own means of subsistence.
3. The States Parties to the present Covenant, including those having responsibility for the administration of Non-Self-Governing and Trust Territories, shall promote the realization of the right of self-determination, and shall respect that right, in conformity with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations.
PART II
Article 2
1. Each State Party to the present Covenant undertakes to respect and to ensure to all individuals within its territory and subject to its jurisdiction the rights recognized in the present Covenant, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.
2. Where not already provided for by existing legislative or other measures, each State Party to the present Covenant undertakes to take the necessary steps, in accordance with its constitutional processes and with the provisions of the present Covenant, to adopt such laws or other measures as may be necessary to give effect to the rights recognized in the present Covenant.
3. Each State Party to the present Covenant undertakes:
(a) To ensure that any person whose rights or freedoms as herein recognized are violated shall have an effective remedy, notwithstanding that the violation has been committed by persons acting in an official capacity;
(b) To ensure that any person claiming such a remedy shall have his right thereto determined by competent judicial, administrative or legislative authorities, or by any other competent authority provided for by the legal system of the State, and to develop the possibilities of judicial remedy;
(c) To ensure that the competent authorities shall enforce such remedies when granted.
Article 3
The States Parties to the present Covenant undertake to ensure the equal right of men and women to the enjoyment of all civil and political rights set forth in the present Covenant.
Afro-descendants Sue the United States for Protection Against the Coronavirus
Afro-descendants Sue the United States for Protection Against the Coronavirus
In October 2018 We filed a request in the UN Decolonization Committee to be added to the Decolonization list of Non-Self-governing People
Afro-descendants Sue the United States for Protection Against the Coronavirus
Afro-descendants Sue the United States for Protection Against the Coronavirus
Afro-descendants Sue the United States for Protection Against the Coronavirus
