SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON DECOLONIZATION TO HOLD PACIFIC

REGIONAL SEMINAR, 18-20 MAY IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA

Designed to Advance Decolonization Process in Pacific Region

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 the Special Committee of 24 on decolonization, will hold its annual regional decolonization seminar in Papua New Guinea from 18 to 20 May.  Designed to advance the decolonization process in the Pacific Region, the seminar will be hosted by the Government of Papua New Guinea.

The seminar is conducted within the framework of the Second International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism (2001-2010) and will focus on practical steps to advance the decolonization process in the Non-Self-Governing Territories of the Pacific region.  Among the issues to be discussed during the seminar are the role of the Special Committee in facilitating decolonization of the Non-Self-Governing Territories and the views of the representatives of Non-Self-Governing Territories, both in the Pacific region and the Caribbean, on their present status and prospects for decolonization.  The case of Tokelau, which is making progress towards decolonization, will be presented and discussed.  The seminar will also examine the role of the United Nations system in providing assistance to the Non-Self-Governing Territories.

The participants will include the delegation of the Special Committee and other United Nations Member States, representatives of the administering Powers, elected representatives of the Non-Self-Governing Territories, a number of experts in decolonization in the Pacific region and some non-governmental organizations based in the Non-SelfGoverningTerritories.  The contributions of the participants will serve as a basis for the conclusions and recommendations of the seminar, which will be studied by the Special Committee at its forthcoming session.  Proposals will then be submitted to the General Assembly concerning the fulfilment of the objectives of the Second International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism.

The current membership of the Special Committee of 24 is as follows:  Antigua and Barbuda, Bolivia, Chile, China, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Ethiopia, Fiji, Grenada, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Mali, Papua New Guinea, Russian Federation, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sierra Leone, Syria, Tunisia, United Republic of Tanzania, and Venezuela.  There are now 25 members of the Committee.

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