Special Decolonization Committee Approves 3 Drafts Aimed at Bolstering UN’s Support for Non-Self-Governing Territories, as Main Part of 2026 Session Opens
Opening the main part of its 2026 session today, the Special Committee on Decolonization approved three draft resolutions on United Nations support for the world’s 17 remaining Non-Self-Governing Territories.
Meanwhile, several speakers cited evidence of resurgent “neo-colonialism” in today’s geopolitical tumult.
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 Non-Self-Governing Territories, as defined in Chapter XI of the UN Charter, to which the Declaration is applicable and hears statements from their representatives.
Enhancing Information Dissemination
Acting without a vote on all three texts, which will be submitted to the General Assembly for adoption, the Special Committee approved its annual draft resolution “Dissemination of information on decolonization” (document A/AC.109/2026/L.4). By its terms, the Assembly would request the Department of Global Communications to continue to update information on the assistance programmes available to the Non-Self-Governing Territories.
A related report of the Secretary-General (document A/AC.109/2026/18) was introduced by Robert Skinner, Deputy Director of the Department of Global Communications’ Outreach Division. Josiane Ambiehl, Chief of the Decolonization Unit of the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, also made a statement.
Collecting Information on Territories’ Socioeconomic, Educational Conditions
By the terms of a second resolution, “Information from Non‑Self‑Governing Territories transmitted under Article 73(e) of the Charter of the United Nations” (document A/AC.109/2026/L.3), the Assembly would ask the Territories’ administering Powers to respect their obligations under the Charter and transmit to the UN Secretary-General information relating to the economic, social and educational conditions in the Territories.
Facilitating Visiting and Special Missions
A third text, titled “Question of sending visiting and special missions to Territories” (document A/AC.109/2026/L.5), would have the Assembly stress the need to dispatch periodic visiting missions to Non-Self-Governing Territories to facilitate the full, speedy and effective implementation of the Declaration. It would also call upon the administering Powers to cooperate with the UN in such missions to the Territories under their administration.
Also today, the Special Committee considered the questions of Tokelau, American Samoa, Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, French Polynesia, Montserrat, New Caledonia, Pitcairn, Saint Helena, Turks and Caicos Islands and the United States Virgin Islands. It heard statements by petitioners and officials from some of those Territories, as well as several administering Powers.
“We are witnessing a global situation marked by aggressive rhetoric against sovereign States, as well as neo-colonialist policies,” said Cuba’s delegate, speaking early in the meeting and echoed by several other speakers.
Stressing that colonialism is once again being pursued in her region and beyond, she warned that those policies are underwritten by an “unjust international order” that continues to exclude much of humanity.
Question of Tokelau
Andre Van Der Walt, Interim Administrator of Tokelau, said New Zealand — the administering Power — remains committed to supporting Tokelau. In practice, the Territory has been self-governing for several decades. “It remains essential that the people of Tokelau are able to consider questions [of decolonization] at their own pace and in their own way,” he stressed.
Fiji’s delegate welcomed New Zealand’s substantial investment in Tokelau over many years, despite the Territory’s many exceptional challenges, and urged it to continue its support until a mutually agreed governance solution is reached.
Question of Gibraltar
Fabian Picardo, Chief Minister of Gibraltar, noted that his Territory’s delisting from the UN’s Non-Self-Governing Territories roster was delayed by two resolutions from the 1960s. More recently, a treaty between the United Kingdom and the European Union “will sweep away the physical barriers of a bygone era”, he said, inviting members of the Special Committee to visit Gibraltar.
Petitioner Richard Buttigieg agreed that that treaty resulted from “a bespoke international agreement” between the United Kingdom and the European Union. Stresing his Territory’s uniquely British and Gibraltarian identity, he said the agreement expressly recognizes the laws of Gibraltar. “This is not the language of administration”, he said. “It is the language of a people governing themselves.”
Spain’s delegate said the agreement in question took shape when the interests of Gibraltar’s population were impacted by the United Kingdom’s decision to leave the European Union. Its provisional application will guarantee the free movement of persons and goods between the territory of Gibraltar and its surrounding area, which will serve the interests of tens of thousands of people that daily move in both directions.
However, he stressed, the agreement also contains safeguards for the respective legal positions held by Spain and the United Kingdom, in terms of sovereignty and jurisdiction. In that regard, he emphasized the centrality of the principle of territorial integrity in Gibraltar’s decolonization.
Question of British Virgin Islands
Natalio Wheatley, Premier of the British Virgin Islands, said his Territory’s decolonization is at a critical stage. Noting that it is poised for constitutional negotiations with the United Kingdom in July, he noted that many of the provisions of that constitution are already in place in several other Non-Self-Governing Territories. “Why not [in] the British Virgin Islands?” he asked.
Eliezer Benito Wheatley, a petitioner from the Territory, echoed that request, describing it as a “once-in-a-generation opportunity” for the Special Committee to wield its diplomatic and moral authority.
The representatives of Belize, Saint Lucia and Antigua and Barbuda expressed support for the self-determination of the British Virgin Islands.
Question of French Polynesia
“Decolonization is not an issue of the past,” said petitioner Mareva Kitalong. She called on France, the administering Power, to “finally open dialogue on decolonization” as requested by the UN.
While French Polynesia has been granted autonomy, she said, it is not politically autonomous and it lacks legislative sovereignty. She also cited France’s “nuclear debt” to the Territory, whose people endured severe environmental and health consequences from nuclear testing.
France’s representative, noting the Territory enjoys broad autonomy within the French Republic, said their relationship is based on longstanding dialogue. French Polynesia has authority over its economy, education, health and tourism, while France supports the Territory at a cost of €2 billion annually — about 30 per cent of the Territory’s gross domestic product (GDP).
Question of Guam
Petitioner Pim Limtiaco said her Territory is caught in geopolitics of the Asia-Pacific region. Guam has long suffered as a result of the Second World War, and the administering Power, the United States, is now “eyeing our oceans” for the exploitation of deep-sea mining in an effort to compete with Beijing.
“The United States continues to ignore our input,” she said, inviting the Special Committee to visit Guam and observe its active colonialism.
Question of the Turks and Caicos Islands
Petitioner Benjamin Roberts drew attention to a former United States air force facility in his Territory, which contained asbestos and became a health hazard, as well as the United Kingdom’s rejection of the Territory’s clean-up request. “Is this what decolonization looks like?” he asked, demanding that the matter be fast-tracked to the International Court of Justice.
Antwon Walkin, another petitioner from the Territory, described it as one of the region’s strongest economies. However, economic progress cannot replace a people's right to determine their own political future, he said, adding that the question now is “whether our people will possess the knowledge, confidence and opportunity” necessary to determine their future.
Question of New Caledonia
France’s delegate, speaking as New Caledonia’s administering Power, said the Territory is a sui generis collective in line with the 1998 Nouméa Accords. Moreover, it is entitled to self-determination under the French Constitution. Noting that provincial elections are scheduled for 28 June, he said France will stand beside Caledonians through the electoral process and help them tackle several major challenges — especially economic recovery following the outbreak of violence in 2024
The representatives of Fiji and Papua New Guinea called for all parties to engage in good faith in the self-determination process, while urging the UN to deploy a visiting mission as soon as possible.
Petitioner James Shri Bhagwan asked whether the Special Committee’s annual consideration of New Caledonia without a visiting mission, measurable benchmarks or a decolonization timetable is advancing freedom, “or merely managing delay”. He joined several petitioners in urging the UN to assess the electoral environment and “ensure that the poll is not used to normalize an unresolved colonial situation”.
“The 2024 uprising was not an isolated event, but rather the consequence of a failed colonization process,” said petitioner Billy Wetewea. Among the challenges facing the Territory, he cited a widespread “collapse of confidence” in France, the administering Power.
Other petitioners delivered similar remarks, urging the Special Committee to help resolve the Territory’s political crisis, defend its Indigenous people and “rescue” its floundering self-determination process.
Question of United States Virgin Islands
Petitioner Russell Christopher cited the Territory’s 2009 constitutional convention, where elected delegates drafted a document in line with international law. “We reject any external interference or misinformation that seeks to sabotage the self-determination process,” he said, adding that the administering Power continues to disseminate propaganda suggesting that the Territory is already self-governing. The Special Committee must dispatch a visiting mission to the islands to gather first-hand evidence, he said.
__________
* The 2nd Meeting was not covered.