Week of Solidarity with the Peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories: History, Theme, and Significance

OV Digital Desk

The observationย Week of Solidarity with the Peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories aimedย to show support toย Non-Self-Governing Territories. Non-Self-Governing Territories are those whose citizens have not yet achieved full self-government. The observation begins on 25 May and concludes on 31 May.

Several UN Member States identified a number of territories under their administration that were not self-governing in 1946 and placed them on a UN list. Non-Self-Governing Territories are administered by countries known as administering powers. Most of the Territories have been removed from the list due to the decolonization process over the years.

Theme of Week of Solidarity with the Peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories 2022

The observationย Week of Solidarity with the Peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories aimedย to show support toย Non-Self-Governing Territories. Non-Self-Governing Territories are those whose citizens have not yet achieved full self-government. The observation begins on 25 May and concludes on 31 May. There is no specific theme.

UN observation of International Decades

Quick Facts about Non-Self-Governing Territories

Here are quick facts about the Non-Self-Governing Territories.

  • At present, there areย 17ย Non-Self-Governing Territoriesย remaining.
  • Western Sahara with an area if 266000 Sq.km has been on the United Nations list of non-self-governing territories since 1963 after a Moroccan demand. It was Occupied byย Spainย until 1975. In 1975, Spain relinquished the administrative control of the territory to a joint administration by Morocco
LIST OF NON-SELF-GOVERNING TERRITORIES BY REGION
TERRITORY LISTING AS NSGT ADMINISTERING POWER LAND AREA (sq.km.) POPULATION
AFRICA
Western Sahara Since 1963 Morocco 266,000 612,000
ATLANTIC AND CARIBBEAN
Anguilla Since 1946 United Kingdom 96 15,500
Bermuda Since 1946 United Kingdom 53.35 64,055
British Virgin Islands Since 1946 United Kingdom 153 31,197
Cayman Islands Since 1946 United Kingdom 264 65,786
Falkland Islands (Malvinas) Since 1946 United Kingdom 12,173 Approximately 3,200
Montserrat Since 1946 United Kingdom 103 4,626
Saint Helena Since 1946 United Kingdom 310 4,439
Turks and Caicos Islands Since 1946 United Kingdom 948.2 46,131
United States Virgin Islands Since 1946 United States 352 87,146
EUROPE
Gibraltar Since 1946 United Kingdom 5.8 34,003
PACIFIC
American Samoa Since 1946 United States 200 49,710
French Polynesia 1946-1947 and since 2013 France 3,600 279,300
Guam Since 1946 United States 540 153,836
New Caledonia 1946-1947 and since 1986 France 18,575 271,407
Pitcairn Since 1946 United Kingdom 35.5 46
Tokelau Since 1946 New Zealand 12.2 1,647

International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism

UN declared consecutive 40 years in form 4 decades International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism

  • First International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism (1990 – 2000)
  • In 2000, the General Assembly declared the period 2001 to 2010 the Second International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism.
  • In 2010, the General Assembly declaring the period 2011-2020 the Third International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism and calling upon Member States to intensify their efforts to continue to implement the plan of action for the Second International Decade and to cooperate with the C-24 in updated it as necessary, with a view to using it as the basis for a plan of action for the Third International Decade.
  • In 2020, the General Assembly adopted resolution declaring the period 2021-2030 the Fourthย International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism. This resolution calledย upon Member States to intensify their efforts to continue to implement the plan of action for the Second International Decade

History of Week of Solidarity with the Peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories

In 1946, eight Member States –ย Australia, Belgium, Denmark, France, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United Statesย – listed 72 Territories under their administration, which they considered to be non-self-governing. Eight became independent before 1959.

Transmission of information by the administering Power was discontinued for 21 Non-Self-Governing Territories for various reasons. In some cases, such as Greenland, Alaska and Hawaii, the General Assembly accepted the cessation of information; in others, the decision was taken unilaterally by the administering Power.

From 1960 to 2002, 54 Territories attained self-government. At present, there areย 17ย Non-Self-Governing Territoriesย remaining.

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