Dialogue, political will and respect for international law must continue to guide the decolonization process, the Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) heard today.
Established in 1961, the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples — also known as Committee of 24 — annually reviews the list of Non-Self-Governing Territories to which the Declaration is applicable. It also hears statements from representatives of the Territories, dispatches visiting missions and reports back to the Fourth Committee.
Michael Imran Kanu (Sierra Leone), Vice-Chair of the Special Committee, provided an update on its work during the current session, as well as the regional seminar held in Nicaragua. Each Non-Self-Governing Territory has its own distinct characteristics and circumstances, he said, stressing that “the case-by-case approach to decolonization remains valid and essential”.
Several speakers, including those of Nepal, Angola and Mexico, stressed the UN’s responsibility to bring about progress in the lives of the peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories. Costa Rica’s delegate noted the impact of the climate emergency on many Territories that are islands.
Peru’s delegate, speaking on behalf of the Member States of the Brasilia Consensus, highlighted its adoption of a special declaration which reaffirmed support for Argentina’s legitimate rights in the sovereignty dispute between that country and the United Kingdom over the Malvinas, South Georgias and South Sandwich Islands and the surrounding maritime areas. He also stressed the need for resuming bilateral negotiations, underlining that the military presence of the United Kingdom in the Territory is contrary to the region's policy of adhering to a peaceful solution to the sovereignty dispute.
Argentina’s delegate said the United Kingdom has stated that it will not negotiate unless inhabitants of the Territory desire it. However, he stressed the right to self-determination does not apply in this case. That right requires the existence of a people subject to colonial domination “with ethnic and cultural identity distinct from the occupying Power”, he said, but “in the Malvinas Islands, there are no colonized people”. There is a British population implanted by the occupying Power after the expulsion of the legitimate authorities and the Argentinian population in 1833.
Speaking in exercise of the right of reply, the representative of the United Kingdom said his country is clear about the historical and legal position on the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands. British sovereignty over the Islands dates back to 1765, “some years before the Argentine Republic even existed”, he said, adding that no civilian population was expelled in 1833.
The representative of the Russian Federation, speaking on behalf of the Group of Friends in Defense of the Charter of the UN, urged the administering and occupying Powers “to avoid the pursuance of economic or other activities, including of a military nature”, that can negatively affect the interests of Territories under their administration. Further, colonialist countries must pay full compensation for the consequences of their occupation.
Bahrain’s delegate, speaking for the Gulf Cooperation Council, stressed the need to establish a sovereign and contiguous State of Palestine and rejected any unilateral measure that undermines the chance for a two-State solution, including the Israeli settlement-expansion plan to build thousands of housing units in occupied West Bank, known as E1. It is vital to ensure the unity of the Gaza Strip and West Bank including East Jerusalem. She also condemned the continued occupation by Iran of the Greater Tunb, Smaller Tunb and Abu Musa Islands and expressed support for the United Arab Emirates’ sovereignty over all three islands.
However, Iran’s delegate, speaking in exercise of the right of reply, added that the United Arab Emirates’ claim is not grounded in facts. The three islands have always been integral parts of his country’s sovereign territory, he said, noting that official maps from hundreds of years ago support this.
Ibrahim Olabi (Syria), Rapporteur 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 introduced its report (document A/81/23).
At the beginning of today’s meeting, the Fourth Committee also heard from Khalilur Rahman (Bangladesh), President of the General Assembly, who highlighted the many critical issues that the Fourth Committee considers, from self-determination to the dignity of Palestinian refugees.
The Committee’s consideration of the work of United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) must be grounded in international law, he stressed, noting that last December, the General Assembly renewed the Agency’s mandate until 30 June 2029. UNRWA remains the largest humanitarian agency in Gaza and is operationally irreplaceable. “We have a moral, legal and practical responsibility” to sustain the Agency as it continues to deliver under extreme pressure and financial peril, he said.
Peace is a word that kept recurring during the high-level general debate that recently concluded, he observed, noting: “We need peace operations that are more effective, efficient and responsive.” The Fourth Committee has an indispensable role in looking at peace operations as a whole rather than at individual missions, he said, requesting it to consider what capabilities tomorrow’s operations will require and how to ensure that women shape and lead peacekeeping efforts.
As new technologies advance rapidly, heightening information risks and opportunities, the Committee’s work on protecting information integrity and bridging digital divides remains crucial. Citing Assembly resolution 80/251 on mandate creation and review, he encouraged “more concise, focused and actionable resolutions”.
In other business, the Committee approved requests for hearings by petitioners on the questions of various Non-Self-Governing Territories (documents A/C.4/81/2 through A/C.4/81/12). It granted 2 requests relating to American Samoa, 1 request relating to the British Virgin Islands, 1 regarding the Falkland Islands (Malvinas), 40 requests relating to the French Polynesia, 1 request regarding Gibraltar, 8 requests relating to Guam, 17 requests regarding New Caledonia, 1 concerning Saint Helena, 1 request relating to the Turks and Caicos Islands, 4 requests on the United States Virgin Islands and 170 requests relating to the Western Sahara.
^ A dispute exists between the Governments of Argentina and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland concerning sovereignty over the Falkland Islands (Malvinas).