As the Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) concluded its general debate today on decolonization and related items, speakers paid homage to the resilience and determination of those who continue to strive for freedom.
Spotlighting current and past grievances of colonialism, speakers in the Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) underscored the urgent need for redress and resolution of unresolved colonial issues, as the debate on decolonization and related items continued.
The international community must tackle colonialism, not only in its old forms, but also in its new manifestations, the Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) heard today as delegates drew attention to the yearning for freedom in the 17 Territories that await the United Nations’ decolonization efforts as well as in other regions around the world.
The Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) today heard the last of more than 200 petitioners who had registered to speak during this session on the situations in the 17 Non-Self-Governing Territories.
Peace, human rights and development in the Maghreb and Africa are at stake, the Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) heard today as petitioners continued to testify about the historical and geopolitical issues critical to the question of Western Sahara.
The situation in Western Sahara, the last colony in Africa, took centre stage today in the Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) as petitioners from both sides shared conflicting accounts of the human rights situation in the Territory.
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) elected Sanita Pavļuta-Deslandes (Latvia) as Chair on 6 June.
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).
