‘Hear Our Cry of Self-Determination’, Petitioner Urges Special Decolonization Committee, as It Considers Question of Gibraltar

The Special Committee on Decolonization continued the substantive part of its 2025 session today, hearing from a petitioner as it took up the question of Gibraltar — 1 of 17 remaining Non-Self-Governing Territories.

The 29-member Special Committee — formally known as the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples — annually reviews the list of territories whose people have not yet attained a full measure of self-government.  [Coverage to date of the substantive portion of the Special Committee’s 2025 session, which began on 9 June, is available here.]

“Today, once again, I ask this Committee to hear our cry for self-determination,” urged Richard Buttigieg, Chair of the Self-Determination for Gibraltar Group.  He recalled that, in 2002, 98.5 per cent of Gibraltarians voted in a referendum to remain under British sovereignty.  Rejecting Spain’s demand to reclaim Gibraltar, he declared:  “Gibraltar’s future belongs to us, the Gibraltarians, and not to historical claims that ignore our living, breathing community.”

Gibraltar has “done enough” to be removed from the “United Nations list of colonies”, he continued.  If the Special Committee does not agree, then it should finally visit Gibraltar — a plea Gibraltarians have made for over 20 years — and “tell us what else we must do”.  In a fervent appeal, he urged the Committee to “stand with us, defend our right to self-determination and let Gibraltar’s proud heart sing its own future”.

The Special Committee is scheduled to resume its consideration of the question of Gibraltar on 17 June to hear the representative of Gibraltar and any statements by Committee members and observer States.