A/RES/68/95 A-B
Questions of American Samoa, Anguilla, Bermuda, the British Virgin
Islands, the Cayman Islands, Guam, Montserrat, Pitcairn, Saint Helena,
the Turks and Caicos Islands and the United States Virgin Islands
Noting with appreciation the contribution to the development of some
Territories by the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations
system, in particular the United Nations Development Programme, the Economic
Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean and the Economic and Social
Commission for Asia and the Pacific, as well as regional institutions such as the
Caribbean Development Bank, the Caribbean Community, the Organization of
Eastern Caribbean States, the Pacific Islands Forum and the agencies of the Council
of Regional Organizations in the Pacific,
Recalling the statement made by the representative of the Economic
Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean at the Caribbean regional seminar
held in Kingstown from 31 May to 2 June 2011 that all six Caribbean Non-SelfGoverning Territories are active associate members of the Commission,
Aware that the Human Rights Committee, as part of its mandate under the
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, 5 reviews the status of the selfdetermination process, including in small island Territories under examination by
the Special Committee,
Recalling the ongoing efforts of the Special Committee in carrying out a
critical review of its work with the aim of making appropriate and constructive
recommendations and decisions to attain its objectives in accordance with its
mandate,
Recognizing that the annual working papers prepared by the Secretariat on
developments in each of the small Territories, 6 as well as the substantive
documentation and information furnished by experts, scholars, non-governmental
organizations and other sources, have provided important inputs to update the
present resolutions,
Recalling the report of the Secretary-General on the Second International
Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism, 7
1.
Reaffirms the inalienable right of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing
Territories to self-determination, in conformity with the Charter of the United
Nations and with General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV), containing the
Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples;
Also reaffirms that, in the process of decolonization, there is no
2.
alternative to the principle of self-determination, which is also a fundamental human
right, as recognized under the relevant human rights conventions;
3.
Further reaffirms that it is ultimately for the peoples of the Territories
themselves to determine freely their future political status in accordance with the
relevant provisions of the Charter, the Declaration and the relevant resolutions of
the General Assembly, and in that connection reiterates its long-standing call for the
administering Powers, in cooperation with the territorial Governments and
appropriate bodies of the United Nations system, to develop political education
programmes for the Territories in order to foster an awareness among the people of
their right to self-determination in conformity with the legitimate political status
options, based on the principles clearly defined in Assembly resolution 1541 (XV)
and other relevant resolutions and decisions;
_______________
5
See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex.
A/AC.109/2013/3-13.
7
A/65/330 and Add.1.
6
4/17