CARACAS, 16 May – The 2024 Caribbean Regional Seminar on Decolonization concluded today with “consensus around the principle of self-determination and sovereignty and independence”. This was according to Yvan Gil Pinto, Minister of the People’s Power for Foreign Affairs of Venezuela.
Following is UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ message for the opening of the 2024 Regional Seminar on Decolonization, in Caracas, 14 May:
CARACAS, 15 May — Participants of the 2024 Caribbean Regional Seminar continued their deliberations on day two, reflecting on the Seminar’s theme “Pursuing goals and addressing needs of the Non-Self-Governing Territories”. Discussions centred around four agenda items.
CARACAS, 14 May — “Our work is unfinished” declared Menissa Rambally of Saint Lucia, Chair 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 (also known as the Special Committee of 24 or as “C-24”), during the first day of the 2024 Caribbean regional seminar of the Special Committee on Decolonization. She noted that Venezuela’s hosting of the seminar “is indicative of its robust dedication to the decolonization agenda”.
The Special Committee on Decolonization will hold the Caribbean Regional Seminar in Caracas, from 14 to 16 May within the framework of the Fourth International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism (2021-2030).
The Special Committee on Decolonization met this morning to continue its 2024 session. On its agenda were preparations for the 2024 Caribbean regional seminar.
As the 17 Non-Self-Governing Territories continue to face current and future challenges — including the existential threat of climate change — United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres stressed today that the Special Committee on Decolonization remains crucial to their successful evolution.
The Economic and Social Council concluded its management segment today, adopting five resolutions and six decisions from its subsidiary bodies that addressed strengthening development planning for Haiti, support for Non-Self-Governing Territories and the rights of the Palestinian people in the occupied territory, as well as the protection of Palestinian women.
The Special Committee on Decolonization concluded its 2023 substantive session today, approving 17 resolutions to be forwarded to the General Assembly for adoption. It also approved the draft conclusions and recommendations and the procedural report of the 2023 Pacific regional seminar on the implementation of the Fourth International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism.
The Special Committee on Decolonization today approved a draft resolution reaffirming the inalienable right of the people of Puerto Rico to self-determination and independence and calling again upon the United States to assume its responsibility to promote a process to those ends.
