The United Nations must listen to the people on the ground in the 17 Non-Self-Governing Territories, the Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) heard today from elected officials and petitioners from British Virgin Islands, French Polynesia, Gibraltar, New Caledonia, and Guam who detailed long years of colonial occupation as well as new horizons of progress.
“It is unacceptable to prolong the decolonization processes of the 17 existing Non-Self-Governing Territories,” Costa Rica’s delegate said today as the Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) began its general debate on decolonization and related agenda items.
The Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) approved its programme of work for the General Assembly’s seventy-ninth session today, with topics ranging from the decolonization of the 17 remaining Non-Self-Governing Territories to the work of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).
The United Nations Special Committee on Decolonization, currently chaired by Menissa Rambally (Saint Lucia), will undertake a visiting mission to the British Virgin Islands from 26 to 27 August.
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.
