Special Committee Approves Three Texts on Implementation of Decolonization Declaration in Non-Self-Governing Territories
Action on Economic Activities Draft, 11 Others Deferred until Later Date
The Special Committee on Decolonization approved three draft resolutions today, welcoming the cooperative attitude towards Tokelau in the first text, and calling for greater efforts by both administering Powers and United Nations agencies, in the others, to implement the landmark 1960 Declaration on the granting of independence to Non-Self-Governing Territories and their peoples.
Approved without a vote for adoption by the General Assembly, the draft on Tokelau contained new information on that Territory’s regional and international cooperation, Papua New Guinea’s representative said in introducing the text. By its terms, the Assembly would welcome the cooperative attitude of regional States and Territories towards Tokelau and their support for its economic and political aspirations. It would take note of Tokelau’s 2014 hosting of the tenth annual ministerial meeting of the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency’s Fisheries Committee, and its signing of the Pacific Islands Development Forum Charter in April 2016. It also would call upon New Zealand, the administering Power, and United Nations agencies to continue to provide assistance to Tokelau.
“Tokelau has come a long way,” Afega Gaualofa, Ulu of Tokelau, told the Special Committee in opening today’s discussion. While that success would not have been possible without New Zealand, the Territory also needed other partners, including United Nations agencies, he said. Since Tokelau was not eligible for United Nations climate-action resources, he asked the Special Committee to help it gain access to the Global Environment Fund (GEF) and the Green Climate Fund. He also requested that the Special Committee look into Tokelau’s request to participate in a meeting of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in November and a meeting on oceans to be held in June 2017. He pressed United Nations agencies to support the Territory’s distinct voice in that regard, as separate from that of New Zealand.
New Zealand’s representative said her Government was committed to its constitutional relationship with Tokelau and looked forward to the two working together on the Territory’s adaptation to climate change. “We understand the importance to Tokelau of having its voice heard,” she said, noting that their two voices were quite similar on climate change.
By a draft resolution submitted by the Chair, on implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, the General Assembly would call on administering Powers to cooperate fully in the Special Committee’s work, and to finalize a work programme, on a case-by-case basis, for Non-Self-Governing Territories to facilitate implementation of the Special Committee’s mandate.
Also by that text, the Assembly would request the Special Committee to seek suitable means for the Declaration’s implementation, notably by formulating proposals for ending colonialism and reporting to the Assembly at its seventy-second session. It would also approve the Special Committee’s 2016 report, in which its 2017 work programme was outlined, and request that the Secretary-General review the resources at the Special Committee’s disposal.
A third draft resolution would have the General Assembly recommend that States intensify efforts, through United Nations specialized agencies and other associated organizations, to ensure implementation of the Declaration. It would request specialized agencies and other United Nations entities to review conditions in each Territory and take measures to accelerate progress in the economic and social sectors.
Further by the text, the Assembly would urge specialized agencies and other United Nations entities that had not yet provided assistance to the Territories to do so as soon as possible, and to strengthen support measures. It would recommend that executive heads of those agencies and other organizations formulate proposals for implementation of relevant resolutions and submit them to their governing and legislative organs. The Assembly would request the Chair of the Special Committee to maintain close contact on those matters with the President of the Economic and Social Council.
The Special Committee deferred action on a draft resolution relating to economic activities affecting the interests of the peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories, and 11 others on the following Territories: American Samoa, Anguilla, Bermuda, Guam, Cayman Islands, Turks and Caicos Islands, British Virgin Islands, United States Virgin Islands, Montserrat, Pitcairn and Saint Helena.
Other speakers today were representatives of Fiji, Russian Federation, Ecuador and Venezuela.
The Special Committee will reconvene at 10 a.m. on Thursday, 23 June, to continue its 2016 session.
Question of Tokelau
The Special Committee took up a range of items on its agenda, the first being the question of Tokelau.
AFEGA GAUALOFA, Ulu of Tokelau, described climate change as the “multidimensional challenge of our time”, pressing United Nations agencies to support the Territory’s distinct voice in that regard, as separate from that of New Zealand. He said that he had requested an invitation to attend the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change meeting in November and a United Nations meeting on oceans in June 2017, and asked the Special Committee to look into that request.
He went on to state that the people of Tokelau, a Non-Self-Governing Territory of New Zealand, had full rights to live in that country, the Government of which provided 60 per cent of the Territory’s annual budget. However, New Zealand had never had a physical presence in Tokelau, and the relationship was managed by the Administrator of Tokelau, a statutory position held by a New Zealand-appointed public servant.
Over the years, he continued, Tokelau had provided progress reports to the Special Committee on programme funding aimed at strengthening public services, improving life on its three atolls and maximizing revenue from fisheries. New Zealand had recently given Tokelau a cargo vessel designed specifically to meet its shipping needs and capable of transporting 60 passengers from Samoa to Tokelau. It was larger and more efficient than previous vessels, and New Zealand was working with Tokelau on ship-to-shore projects to increase safety and efficiency, he said.
Following the construction of two schools and a hospital in 2013, New Zealand was now working to improve the quality of teaching and learning outcomes in Tokelau, he stated. Both were also working to improve the health sector, increase revenue from fisheries and prepare a 30-year asset management plan for maintaining infrastructure and enhancing economic governance. “Tokelau has come a long way,” which would not have been possible without New Zealand, he said. However, the Territory also needed other partners, including United Nations agencies. Tokelau was not eligible for any United Nations climate-action resources, he said, requesting that the Special Committee help it gain access to the Global Environment Fund (GEF) and the Green Climate Fund.
On the decolonization process, he said that while the free association model had extreme flexibility, independence was unlikely to be of interest to the smallest of Non-Self-Governing Territories. Integration might be the choice of some, but not many, due to the perceived risks of assimilation. The Special Committee’s support must be more meaningful than simply meeting annually, he said, urging it to consider how it could support Tokelau. The Territory’s very survival — as well as its unique environment, culture, language and traditions — would likely disappear if it could not engage directly in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change process, he emphasized. If Tokelau decided to seek self-government, he said, it wished to be in a strong position to do so, with the infrastructure and resources to make the most of such an opportunity. Its five-year strategy for the period 2016-2020 was geared towards self-reliance and self-determination through a more proactive approach to development and ensuring that its limited resources could achieve that mission, he said, adding that Tokelau’s relationship with New Zealand continued to thrive.
The representative of Venezuela expressed hope that the willingness of both sides would ensure that the people of Tokelau could exercise, without pressure or fear, their right to self-determination.
The representative of New Zealand said that her country was working to ensure that timely and accurate information on Tokelau was provided to the Special Committee, adding that the Government continued to work with the Territory to foster a mature relationship. “We work very much in a partnership,” she said, noting that Tokelau’s challenges were not likely to change because its people were among the most geographically isolated. New Zealand was committed to its constitutional relationship with Tokelau, working to ensure that those living on its three atolls received appropriate essential services, among other things. In February, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had gifted Tokelau a new ferry, the design of which incorporated elements requested by the Territory’s people and satisfied all international safety standards. A total of NZ$12.95 million had been spent to procure the vessel and help Tokelau assume management responsibilities.
In the area of education, New Zealand personnel were working alongside Tokelau teachers and principals, which had led to improved teaching and learning outcomes, she said. New Zealand had granted NZ$1.5 million to encourage the General Fono (Assembly of Tokelau) to approve a new remuneration framework aimed at incentivizing schools to individualize learning programmes. On the economic front, New Zealand co-managed Tokelau’s exclusive economic zone, with fishery revenues estimated to reach NZ$13.4 million, and would work on reforms to establish a new fisheries-management agency, she said.
On climate change, she said the Government looked forward to working with Tokelau on its adaption response plans. “We understand the importance to Tokelau of having its voice heard,” she said, noting that their voices on climate change were quite similar. New Zealand would continue to facilitate the participation of Tokelau’s delegation in negotiations, and on telecommunications, it had offered to help the Territory review investment options for implementing the most appropriate connectivity solutions.
More broadly, she said New Zealand supported Tokelau’s focus on improving core services and life quality, while remaining “paused” in its self-determination efforts. It respected the pace that Tokelau wished to set in pursuing a future of its own choosing. New Zealand was also committed to Tokelau’s a long-term development and would provide bilateral assistance of NZ$14.4 million in 2016-2017, to be supplemented by NZ$5.5 million for fisheries management, disaster preparedness and scholarships, among other things. Following meetings in December 2015, New Zealand had prepared good cases for more funding to improve ship-to-shore transport and expand renewable energy systems, she said, adding that her country valued its close association with Tokelau.
MAX HUFANEN RAI (Papua New Guinea) introduced the draft resolution on the question of Tokelau (document A/AC.109/2016/L.25) and a related working paper prepared by the Secretariat (document A/AC.109/2016/14) on behalf of his own country as well as Fiji. He recalled the outcomes of the two referendums conducted in Tokelau in 2006 and 2007 on the question of self-determination and the mutual agreement reached between the Territory’s people and the administering Power to defer to question until such time as the people would be ready. Tokelau and the administering Power had been focused on prioritizing and improving the people’s welfare by meeting their basic needs, including by building capacity and resilience against the threats of sea-level rise and climate change, while strengthening good governance, enhancing women’s empowerment and equality, and ensuring sustainable energy security, among other objectives.
He said the draft resolution contained a new and important section on Tokelau’s regional and international cooperation, which would be a key building block for its future aspirations. In 2014, Tokelau had successfully hosted the Pacific Islands Forum’s Fisheries Agency and the related ministerial meeting, he noted, describing it as an unprecedented and landmark event for the Territory. As the international community continued to focus on shaping a new sustainable development agenda with particular emphasis on poverty eradication, social inclusion and environmental protection, it was imperative that the United Nations work closely with the people of Tokelau and the administering Power to determine the Territory’s future status, he emphasized, noting that the continuing, exemplary mutual understanding and constructive engagement between Tokelau and New Zealand was a useful benchmark for the self-determination processes of other Non-Self-Governing Territories and administering Powers.
The Committee then approved the draft resolution without a vote.
PENI B. SUVEINAKAMA (Fiji), associating himself with Papua New Guinea, highlighted the collaborative relationship between Tokelau and the administrating Power, saying it positively addressed the will and needs of the people of Tokelau. However, international support must not focus exclusively on the political independence of all Non-Self-Governing Territories, but also place sufficient emphasis on current social and economic development needs, all of which should be part and parcel of the decolonization process. A much broader collection of issues beyond self-determination formulated the decolonization process, including addressing issues related to education, social structures, infrastructure, political legacies and natural resources, to name a few. Non-Self-Governing Territories must be equipped not only to take control of their political destinies but also their future development, across a broad front, he said, emphasizing that they had their own unique challenges and any decision made about their futures must be determined by their own peoples.
The Special Committee then took up draft resolutions relating to the questions of the following individual Non-Self-Governing Territories: American Samoa, Anguilla, Bermuda, Guam, Cayman Islands, Turks and Caicos Islands, British Virgin Islands, United States Virgin Islands, Montserrat, Pitcairn and Saint Helena (documents A/AC/109/2016/L.8, L.9, L.10, L.11, L.12, L.14, L.15, L.16, L.17, L.18 and L.19), deciding to defer action on them until its upcoming plenary session.
Declaration on Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples
The Special Committee then took up a resolution titled “Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples” (document A/AC.109/2016/L.20), approving it without a vote.
It went on to take up a draft resolution titled “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 (document A/AC.109/2016/L.21), submitted by the Chair.
The representative of the Russian Federation said his Government’s position on decolonization and on championing the self-determination and independence of the Non-Self-Governing Territories and peoples remained unchanged. However, considering that political question had drawn the Economic and Social Council away from coordinating United Nations actions in the social and economic fields, the Russian Federation would abstain from the vote.
The Special Committee then approved the text without a vote.
Economic and Other Activities which Affect Non-Self-Governing Territories
The Special Committee then took up its agenda item on economic and other activities affecting the interests of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories.
The representative of Ecuador emphasized his concern over the use of tax havens by administering Powers, noting that such havens were under examination in other forums. They could harm all developing countries because they facilitated the outflow of capital that could be for development. Administering Powers were using such havens to facilitate an economic crime against developing countries, he stressed.
The representative of Venezuela echoed those concerns, underscoring the importance of the draft resolution in the context of measures to guarantee the sovereignty and rights of the peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories, especially in relation to their natural resources. Such issues should be addressed on a case-by-case basis, he said, expressing hope that the Special Committee could continue discussions and ensure implementation of that aspect of the Declaration.
The Special Committee then decided to take action on the related draft resolution (document A/AC.109/2016/L.22) at a later date.