United Nations list of non-self-governing territories

Last updated

UN General Assembly
Resolution 66 (I)
UN General Assembly Resolution 66 (1).pdf
United Nations General Assembly resolution A/RES/66 (I) dated 14 January 1946
Date14 December 1946
Meeting no.Sixty fourth
CodeA/RES/66(1) (Document)
SubjectTransmission of information under Article 73e of the Charter [relating to non-self-governing territories]
ResultAdopted

Chapter XI of the United Nations Charter defines a non-self-governing territory (NSGT) as a territory "whose people have not yet attained a full measure of self-government". Chapter XI of the UN Charter also includes a "Declaration on Non-Self-Governing Territories" that the interests of the occupants of dependent territories are paramount and requires member states of the United Nations in control of such territories to submit annual information reports concerning the development of those territories. Since 1946, the UNGA has maintained a list of non-self governing territories under member states' control. Since its inception, dozens of territories have been removed from the list, typically when they attained independence or internal self-government, while other territories have been added as new administering powers joined the United Nations or the UN General Assembly (UNGA) reassessed their status.

Contents

Since 1961 the list has been maintained by the Special Committee on Decolonization.

History

Chapter XI of the UN Charter contains a Declaration Concerning Non-Self-Governing Territories. [1] Article 73(e) requires UN member states to report to the United Nations annually on the development of NSGTs under their control. From the initial reports provided by eight member states (Australia, Belgium, Denmark, France, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States), a list was compiled in 1946 listing 72 NSGTs. [2] [3] In several instances, administering powers were later allowed to remove dependent territories from the list, either unilaterally (as in the case of French overseas territories such as French Polynesia), [4] [5] or by a vote of the General Assembly (as in the cases of Puerto Rico, Greenland, the Netherlands Antilles and Suriname). [6]

Map of territories on the United Nations list of non-self-governing territories. UN-Non-Self-Governing Territories.svg
Map of territories on the United Nations list of non-self-governing territories.

The list draws its origins from the period of colonialism and the Charter's concept of non-self-governing territories. As an increasing number of formerly colonized countries became UN members, the General Assembly increasingly asserted its authority to place additional territories on the list and repeatedly declared that only the General Assembly had the authority to authorize a territory's being removed from the list upon attainment of any status other than full independence. For example, when Portugal joined the United Nations it contended that it did not control any non-self-governing territory, claiming that areas such as Angola and Mozambique were an integral part of the Portuguese state, but the General Assembly rejected this position. Similarly, Western Sahara was added in 1963 when it was a Spanish colony. As with Namibia, which was seen, due to its former status as a League of Nations mandate territory, as a vestige of German colonial legacy in Africa, until it was removed in 1990 upon its independence. A set of criteria for determining whether a territory is to be considered "non-self-governing" was established in General Assembly Resolution 1541 (XV) of 1960. [7] Also in 1960, the General Assembly adopted Resolution 1514 (XV), promulgating the "Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples", which declared that all remaining non-self-governing territories and trust territories were entitled to self-determination and independence. The following year, the General Assembly established the Special Committee on the Situation with Regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples (sometimes referred to as the Special Committee on Decolonization, or the "Committee of 24" because for much of its history the committee was composed of 24 members), which reviews the situation in non-self-governing territories each year and reports to the General Assembly. A revised list in 1963 listed 64 NSGTs.

Resolutions adopted

1946

1947

1960

1961

1966

1990–2000

2001–2010

2011–present

Current entries

The following 17 territories are currently included in the list. [12]

Overview of non-self-governing territories
TerritoryAdministering powerDomestic legal statusOther claimant(s)PopulationAreaReferendum(s)See also
km2sq mi
Flag of American Samoa.svg American Samoa Flag of the United States.svg United States Unincorporated unorganized territory None55,51920077No official referendum has been held. Politics of American Samoa
Flag of Anguilla.svg Anguilla Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom Overseas territory None14,1089637No official referendum has been held. Politics of Anguilla
Flag of Bermuda.svg Bermuda Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom Overseas territory None62,0005722A 1995 Bermudian independence referendum was held. 74% of votes cast were against independence. [13] Politics of Bermuda
Flag of the British Virgin Islands.svg British Virgin Islands Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom Overseas territory None28,10315359No official referendum has been held. Politics of the British Virgin Islands
Flag of the Cayman Islands.svg Cayman Islands Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom Overseas territory None55,500264102No official referendum has been held. Foreign relations of the Cayman Islands
Flag of the Falkland Islands.svg Falkland Islands Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom Overseas territory Flag of Argentina.svg Argentina 3,66212,1734,700Two referendums have been held in 1986 and 2013 on whether the Falklands should join Argentina. On both occasions, voters overwhelmingly chose continued British control. [14] [15] Falkland Islands sovereignty dispute
Flag of French Polynesia.svg French Polynesia [A] Flag of France.svg France Overseas country None271,0004,0001,500No official referendum has been held. Politics of French Polynesia
Flag of Gibraltar.svg Gibraltar Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom Overseas territory Flag of Spain.svg Spain29,75262.3There were referendums in 1967 and in 2002, both returning an overwhelming victory for the pro-British side. [17] [18] Status of Gibraltar
Flag of Guam.svg Guam Flag of the United States.svg United States Unincorporated organized territory None159,358540210Three status referendums have been held, one in 1976 [19] and two in 1982 (one in January [20] and the other in September [21] ), with all three of them supporting an improved Commonwealth status under US control. Politics of Guam
Flag of Montserrat.svg Montserrat Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom Overseas territory None5,00010340No official referendum has been held. Government of Montserrat
Flag of FLNKS.svg New Caledonia [B] Flag of France.svg France Sui generis collectivity None252,00018,5757,172There were referendums in 1987, [23] 2018, [24] 2020, [25] and 2021, [26] all deciding against independence. Politics of New Caledonia
Flag of the Pitcairn Islands.svg Pitcairn [C] Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom Overseas territory None503614No official referendum has been held. Politics of the Pitcairn Islands
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Saint Helena [D] Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom Overseas territory None5,396310120No official referendum has been held. Politics of Saint Helena
Flag of Tokelau.svg Tokelau Flag of New Zealand.svg New Zealand Territory None1,411124.6There were two referendums on self-determination in Tokelau in 2006 and 2007, with both coming just shy of the required two-thirds "yes" margin. [27] [28] Politics of Tokelau
Flag of the Turks and Caicos Islands.svg Turks and Caicos Islands Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom Overseas territory None31,458948366No official referendum has been held. Politics of the Turks and Caicos Islands
Flag of the United States Virgin Islands.svg US Virgin Islands Flag of the United States.svg United States Unincorporated organized territory None106,405352136A 1993 United States Virgin Islands status referendum was held. The status quo was widely preferred among voters, but the result was invalidated because of the low turnout. [29] Politics of the United States Virgin Islands
Western Sahara (disputed) Flag placeholder.svgNone (de facto) [E]
Flag of Spain.svg Spain (de jure) [32]
Disputed 619,060266,000103,000The United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara has attempted to organize a referendum since 1991, but none has been held so far. [33] Political status of Western Sahara

Notes

  1. On 18 May 2013, the United Nations General Assembly voted to place French Polynesia back on the list. [16]
  2. On 2 December 1986, the United Nations General Assembly voted to place New Caledonia back on the list. [22]
  3. Officially the Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie and Oeno Islands.
  4. Officially Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha.
  5. The Polisario Front is occasionally invited to speak as the territory's representative before the Special Committee on Decolonization, though this practice is inconsistent. [30] As an occupying force, Morocco cannot be regarded as Western Sahara's "de facto administering power". [31]

Former entries

The following territories were originally listed by UN General Assembly Resolution 66 (I) of 14 December 1946 as Trust and Non-Self-Governing Territory. The dates show the year of independence or other change in a territory's status which led to their removal from the list, [34] after which information was no longer submitted to the United Nations. [6]

Change in status by administering power

Overview of non-self-governing territories that had a change in status
Trust / Territory [6] Change in status [6] Current statusAdministering power [6] PopulationArea / km2Area / mi2Year removed [6] See also
Flag of Alaska.svg Alaska Granted statehood (full integration with the United States) US state Flag of the United States.svg United States683,4781,700,130656,4241959 Legal status of Alaska
Flag of Hong Kong (1959-1997).svg British Hong Kong Removed from the list on request of China [35] Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China (since 1 July 1997):
Flag of Hong Kong.svg Hong Kong
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom 7,018,6361,0924221972 Politics of Hong Kong
Flag of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands.svg Cocos (Keeling) Islands Voted to integrate into Australia External territory of AustraliaFlag of Australia (converted).svg Australia5961451984 Shire of Cocos
Flag of the Cook Islands.svg Cook Islands Gained self-rule State in free association with New ZealandFlag of New Zealand.svg New Zealand 12,271237921965 Politics of the Cook Islands
Flag of Suriname (1959-1975).svg Dutch Guiana Granted more autonomyFlag of Suriname.svg Suriname Flag of the Netherlands.svg Netherlands 475,996163,27063,0391955 Politics of Suriname
Flag of French Guiana.svg French Guiana Became an overseas department (full integration with the French Republic) Overseas department and region of France Flag of France (1794-1815).svg France 209,00083,53432,2531947 Politics of French Guiana
Flag of French Polynesia.svg French Polynesia (later reinstated) [a] Became an overseas territory (semi-autonomous collectivity of the French Republic) Overseas country of France:
Flag of French Polynesia.svg French Polynesia

Overseas state private property of France:
Flag of France.svg Clipperton Island
Flag of France (1794-1815).svg France 298,2564,4411,7151947 Politics of French Polynesia
Flag of Greenland.svg Greenland Incorporated into Denmark as Greenland County (1953). Gained home rule as a Country within the Kingdom of Denmark (1979). Increased autonomy (2009) Autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark [36] [37] Flag of Denmark.svg Denmark 57,5642,166,086836,3301954 Politics of Greenland
Flag of Guadeloupe (local) variant.svg Guadeloupe Became an overseas department (full integration with the French Republic) Overseas department and region of France:
Flag of Guadeloupe (local) variant.svg Guadeloupe

Overseas collectivities of France:
Flag of Saint Barthelemy (Local).svg Saint Barthélemy
Local flag of the Collectivity of Saint Martin.svg Saint Martin
Flag of France (1794-1815).svg France 408,0001,6286291947 Politics of Guadeloupe, Saint Barthélemy, and Saint Martin
Flag of Hawaii.svg Hawaii Granted statehood (full integration with the United States) US state Flag of the United States.svg United States1,283,38828,31110,9311959 Legal status of Hawaii
Flag-of-Martinique.svg Martinique Became an overseas department (full integration with the French Republic) Overseas department and region of France Flag of France (1794-1815).svg France 401,0001,1284361947 Politics of Martinique
Flag of the Netherlands Antilles (1959-1986).svg Netherlands AntillesGranted more autonomyConstituent countries of the Kingdom of the Netherlands:
Flag of Aruba.svg Aruba
Flag of Curacao.svg Curaçao
Flag of Sint Maarten.svg Sint Maarten

Special municipalities of the Netherlands:
Flag of Bonaire.svg Bonaire
Flag of Sint Eustatius.svg Sint Eustatius
Flag of Saba.svg Saba
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Netherlands 225,3699603711955 Politics of Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, and the Netherlands Antilles
Flag of FLNKS.svg New Caledonia (later reinstated) [b] Became an overseas territory (semi-autonomous collectivity of the French Republic) Sui generis collectivity of France

Overseas collectivity of France:
Flag of Wallis and Futuna.svg Wallis and Futuna
Flag of France (1794-1815).svg France 224,82419,0607,3591947 Politics of New Caledonia and Wallis and Futuna
Flag of Niue.svg Niue Gained self-rule State in free association with New ZealandFlag of New Zealand.svg New Zealand 1,4442601001974 Politics of Niue
Flag of the Northern Mariana Islands.svg Northern Mariana Islands Became a Commonwealth Unincorporated territory of the United States with Commonwealth statusFlag of the United States.svg United States53,883168651990 Politics of the Northern Mariana Islands
Flag of Panama Canal Zone.svg Panama Canal Zone Removed from the list on request of Panama [ citation needed ]Part of Colón, Panamá, and Panamá Oeste provinces of Panama Flag of the United States.svg United States1947 Politics of Panama
Flag of the Government of Portuguese Macau (1976-1999).svg Portuguese Macau Removed from the list on request of China [35] Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China (since 20 December 1999):
Flag of Macau.svg Macau
Flag of Portugal (official).svg Portugal 545,67428111972 Politics of Macau
Flag of Puerto Rico.svg Puerto Rico Became a Commonwealth (semi-autonomous unincorporated territory of the United States) Unincorporated territory of the United States with Commonwealth statusFlag of the United States.svg United States3,958,1288,8703,4201952 Political status of Puerto Rico
Proposed flag of Reunion (VAR).svg Réunion Became an overseas department (full integration with the French Republic) Overseas department and region of France Flag of France (1794-1815).svg France 868,0002,5129701947 Politics of Réunion
Flag of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon.svg Saint Pierre and Miquelon Became an overseas department and then an overseas territory (semi-autonomous collectivity of the French Republic) Overseas collectivity of FranceFlag of France (1794-1815).svg France 7,044242931947 Politics of Saint Pierre and Miquelon

Joined another state

Overview of non-self-governing territories that joined another state
Non-self-governing territory [6] State joined [6] Current statusAdministering powerPopulationAreaYear removed [6] See also
km2sq mi
British Cameroon Flag.svg British Cameroons Northern Cameroons joined Nigeria
Southern Cameroons joined Cameroon
Adamawa, Borno and Taraba states of Nigeria, Northwest and Southwest regions of Cameroon Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom1961 Politics of Nigeria
Politics of Cameroon
Flag of Spain (1945-1977).svg Ifni Integrated into Morocco Sidi Ifni, Guelmim-Oued Noun, Morocco Flag of Spain.svg Spain51,5171,5025801969 Politics of Morocco
Flag of Portugal.svg Portuguese India Annexed by IndiaThe Indian state of Goa and the union territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu Flag of Portugal (official).svg Portugal 1961 Annexation of Goa
Flag of France.svg French India Integrated into India Puducherry union territory and Chandannagar of West Bengal state of IndiaFlag of France.svg France973,8294921901947 Coup d'état of Yanaon
Morning Star flag.svg Netherlands New Guinea Integrated into Indonesia as Irian Jaya Papua and West Papua provinces of Indonesia Flag of the Netherlands.svg Netherlands420,540162,3701963 Act of Free Choice
Flag of North Borneo (1948-1963).svg North Borneo Joined with Malaya to form Malaysia [38] Malaysian state of Sabah and the federal territory of Labuan Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom285,00076,11529,3881963 Malaysia Agreement [38]
Flag of Portugal (official).svg São João Batista de Ajuda Integrated into the Republic of Dahomey (now Benin) Ouidah commune, Atlantique department, Benin Flag of Portugal (official).svg Portugal 1961 Politics of Benin
Flag of Sarawak (1947-1963).svg Colony of Sarawak Joined with Malaya to form Malaysia [38] Malaysian state of Sarawak Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom546,385124,45048,0501963 Malaysia Agreement [38]
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg British Togoland Joined British Gold Coast colony Volta, Northern and Upper East regions of Ghana Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom1957 Foreign relations of Ghana

Independence

Overview of non-self-governing territories that gained independence
Non-self-governing territory [6] Sub-unitIndependent as [6] Administering powerPopulationAreaYear removed [6] See also
km2sq mi
Flag of Aden (1937-1963).svg Aden Protectorate Flag of South Yemen.svg South Yemen Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom285,192110,1131967 Yemeni unification in 1990
Flag of Portugal.svg Portuguese Angola Flag of Angola.svg Angola Flag of Portugal (official).svg Portugal 7,024,000 [39] 1,246,700481,4001975Including the enclave of Cabinda
Flag of Leeward Islands (1952-1958).svg British Leeward Islands Antigua Flag of Antigua and Barbuda.svg Antigua and Barbuda Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom1981
Flag of the Bahamas (1953-1964).svg Bahamas Flag of the Bahamas.svg The Bahamas Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom13,8785,3581973
Flag of Barbados (1870-1966).svg Barbados Flag of Barbados.svg Barbados Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom4311661966
Unofficial Basutoland Ensign.svg Basutoland Flag of Lesotho (1966-1987).svg Lesotho Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom30,35511,7201966
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Bechuanaland Protectorate Flag of Botswana.svg Botswana Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom1966
Flag of Brunei.svg Brunei Flag of Brunei.svg Brunei Darussalam Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom5,7652,2208601984
Flag of France.svg French Cameroun Flag of Cameroon.svg Cameroon Flag of France.svg France1960Trust Territory
Flag of Portugal.svg Portuguese Cape Verde Flag of Cape Verde (1975-1992).svg Cape Verde Flag of Portugal (official).svg Portugal 4,0331,5571975
Flag of the Congo Free State.svg Belgian Congo Flag of the Republic of the Congo (Leopoldville) (1960-1963).svg Congo Léopoldville Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Belgium16,610,000 [40] 2,344,858905,3551960
Blue Ensign of Cyprus (1922).svg British Cyprus Flag of Cyprus (1960-2006).svg Cyprus Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom9,2513,5721960
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Dutch East Indies Flag of Indonesia.svg Indonesia (excluding Western New Guinea)Flag of the Netherlands.svg Netherlands1950
Flag of Timor Timur.svg East Timor Flag of East Timor.svg East Timor Flag of Indonesia.svg Indonesia 688,71115,0075,7942002 Politics of East Timor
Flag of Portugal (official).svg Portuguese Timor Flag of Indonesia.svg Indonesia Flag of Portugal (official).svg Portugal 15,0075,7942002 Indonesian occupation of East Timor
Flag of France.svg French Equatorial Africa Flag of France.svg French Congo Flag of the Republic of the Congo.svg Republic of the Congo Flag of France.svg France1960
Flag of France.svg French Gabon Flag of Gabon.svg Gabon Flag of France.svg France1960
Flag of France.svg Ubangi Shari Flag of the Central African Republic.svg Central African Republic Flag of France.svg France1960
Flag of France.svg French Chad Flag of Chad.svg Chad Flag of France.svg France1960
Flag of Fiji (1924-1970).svg Fiji Islands Flag of Fiji.svg Fiji Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom1970
Flag of The Gambia (1889-1965).svg Gambia Colony and Protectorate Flag of The Gambia.svg The Gambia Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom10,3804,0101965
Flag of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands (1937-1976).svg Gilbert and Ellice Islands Flag of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands (1937-1976).svg Gilbert Islands Flag of Kiribati.svg Kiribati Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom1979
Flag of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands (1937-1976).svg Tuvalu (Ellice Islands) Flag of Tuvalu.svg Tuvalu Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom1978
Flag of the Gold Coast (1877-1957).svg Gold Coast Flag of Ghana.svg Ghana Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom1957
Flag of British Guiana (1955-1966).svg British Guiana Flag of Guyana.svg Guyana Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom1966
Flag of Portugal.svg Portuguese Guinea Flag of Guinea-Bissau.svg Guinea-Bissau Flag of Portugal (official).svg Portugal 36,12513,9481974
Flag of Spain (1945 - 1977).svg Spanish Guinea Flag of Equatorial Guinea.svg Equatorial Guinea Flag of Spain.svg Spain28,05110,8311968
Flag of British Honduras (1919-1981).svg British Honduras Flag of Belize.svg Belize Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom145,000 [41] 22,9668,8671981
Flag of France (1794-1815).svg French Indochina Flag of Cambodia (1863-1948).svg French protectorate of Cambodia Flag of Cambodia.svg Cambodia Flag of France.svg France1953
Flag of Laos (1893-1952).svg French protectorate of Laos Flag of Laos (1952-1975).svg Kingdom of Laos Flag of France.svg France1949
Flag of Colonial Annam.svg Tonkin (French protectorate) Flag of North Vietnam 1945-1955.svg Democratic Republic of Vietnam Flag of France.svg France1945 Vietnamese unification in 1976
Long tinh flag.svg Annam (French protectorate)
Flag of Republic of Cochinchina (variant).svg French Cochinchina Flag of South Vietnam.svg State of Vietnam Flag of France.svg France1949 Vietnamese unification in 1976
Flag of Jamaica (1957-1962).svg Colony of Jamaica Flag of Jamaica.svg Jamaica Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom11,1004,3001962
Flag of Kenya (1921-1963).svg Colony of Kenya Flag of Kenya.svg Kenya Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom1963Formed by the unification of the Colony of Kenya and the Kenya Protectorate
Flag of Leeward Islands (1952-1958).svg British Leeward Islands Flag of St Christopher Nevis Anguilla.svg Saint Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla Flag of Saint Kitts and Nevis.svg St. Kitts and Nevis Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom1983Separated from Anguilla, which is still a non-self-governing territory
Flag of France.svg French Madagascar Flag of the Comoros (1978-1992).svg Comoros Flag of France.svg France1975
Flag of France.svg French Madagascar Flag of Madagascar.svg Madagascar Flag of France.svg France1960
Flag of the Federated Malay States (1895-1946).svg Malayan Union Flag of Malaya (1950-1963).svg Federation of Malaya Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom132,36451,10619,7321957Later became Malaysia
Flag of Malta (1943-1964).svg Colony of Malta Flag of Malta.svg Malta Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom3161221964
Flag of Mauritius (1923-1968).svg British Mauritius Flag of Mauritius.svg Mauritius Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom2,0407901968
Flag of Morocco.svg French protectorate of Morocco Flag of Morocco.svg Morocco Flag of France.svg France1956
Flag of Portugal.svg Portuguese Mozambique Flag of Mozambique (1975-1983).svg Mozambique Flag of Portugal (official).svg Portugal 7,300,000 [39] 784,955303,0731975
Civil Ensign of Australia.svg Trust Territory of Nauru Flag of Nauru.svg Nauru Flag of Australia (converted).svg Australia218.11968
Flag of New Hebrides.svg New Hebrides Flag of Vanuatu.svg Vanuatu Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Flag of France.svg Anglo-French Condominium 100,000 [42] 12,1894,7061980
Flag of Nigeria (1914-1952).svg British Nigeria Flag of Nigeria.svg Nigeria Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom1960
Flag of Northern Rhodesia (1939-1964).svg Northern Rhodesia Flag of Zambia (1964-1996).svg Zambia Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom3,545,200 [43] 752,618290,5871964
Flag of Nyasaland (1925-1953, 1963-1964).svg Nyasaland Flag of Malawi.svg Malawi Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom752,618290,5871964
Flag of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands.svg Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands Flag of the Marshall Islands.svg Marshall Islands Flag of the United States.svg United States68,000180691990Independent states in free association with the United States
Flag of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands.svg Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands Flag of the Federated States of Micronesia.svg Federated States of Micronesia Flag of the United States.svg United States111,0007022711990Independent states in free association with the United States
Flag of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands.svg Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands Flag of Palau.svg Palau Flag of the United States.svg United States20,9564591771994Independent states in free association with the United States
Flag of Papua New Guinea 1970.svg Territory of Papua and New Guinea Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg Papua New Guinea Flag of Australia (converted).svg Australia1975
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Ruanda-Urundi Flag of Burundi.svg Burundi Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Belgium1962
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Ruanda-Urundi Flag of Rwanda (1961-2001).svg Rwanda Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Belgium1962
Flag of Portugal (official).svg Portuguese São Tomé and Príncipe Flag of Sao Tome and Principe.svg São Tomé and Príncipe Flag of Portugal (official).svg Portugal 1,0013861975
Flag of Seychelles (1961-1976).svg Seychelles Flag of Seychelles (1976-1977).svg Seychelles Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom4511741976
Flag of Sierra Leone 1916-1961.gif Sierra Leone Colony and Protectorate Flag of Sierra Leone.svg Sierra Leone Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom71,74027,7001961
Flag of Singapore in the Straits Settlements.svg Singapore Flag of Malaya (1950-1963).svg Federation of Malaya Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom4,608,1676932681963Singapore first became a state of Malaysia in 1963, before becoming independent in 1965.
Flag of the Solomon Islands (1956-1966).svg British Solomon Islands Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg Solomon Islands Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom28,89611,1571978
Flag of British Somaliland (1952-1960).svg British Somaliland Flag of Somalia.svg State of Somaliland Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom1960Joined the Trust Territory of Somalia within a week to form the Somali Republic
Flag of France.svg French Somaliland Flag of Djibouti.svg Djibouti Flag of France.svg France200,000 [44] 23,2009,0001977
Flag of Italy.svg Trust Territory of Somaliland Flag of Somalia.svg Somalia Flag of Italy.svg Italy1960Joined the State of Somaliland to form the Somali Republic
Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg South West Africa Flag of Namibia.svg Namibia Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg South Africa 2,088,669825,418318,6961990 Foreign relations of Namibia
Flag of Southern Rhodesia (1924-1964).svg Southern Rhodesia Flag of Zimbabwe.svg Zimbabwe Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom6,930,000 [45] 390,580150,8001980
  Swaziland Flag of Eswatini.svg Swaziland Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom17,3646,7041968
Flag of Tanganyika (1923-1961).svg Tanganyika Flag of Tanganyika (1961-1964).svg  Tanganyika Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom1961Trust Territory. Later joined with the People's Republic of Zanzibar to form the United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar, now Tanzania
Flag of Togo (1958-1960).svg French Togoland Flag of Togo (3-2).svg Togo Flag of France.svg France1960Trust Territory
Flag of Trinidad and Tobago (1889-1958).svg Trinidad and Tobago Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg Trinidad and Tobago Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom5,1281,9801962
Pre-1999 Flag of Tunisia.svg French Tunisia Flag of Tunisia.svg Tunisia Flag of France.svg France163,61063,1701956
Flag of the Uganda Protectorate.svg Uganda Protectorate Flag of Uganda.svg Uganda Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom1962
Flag of France (1794-1815, 1830-1974, 2020-present).svg French West Africa Flag of French Sudan.svg French Sudan Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg Ivory Coast Flag of France.svg France1960
Flag of France (1794-1815, 1830-1974, 2020-present).svg French West Africa Flag of French Sudan.svg French Sudan Flag of Mali.svg Mali Flag of France.svg France1960
Flag of France (1794-1815, 1830-1974, 2020-present).svg French West Africa Flag of French Sudan.svg French Sudan Flag of Mauritania (1959-2017).svg Mauritania Flag of France.svg France1960
Flag of France (1794-1815, 1830-1974, 2020-present).svg French West Africa Flag of France.svg French Guinea Flag of Guinea.svg Guinea Flag of France.svg France1958
Flag of France (1794-1815, 1830-1974, 2020-present).svg French West Africa Flag of France.svg French Dahomey Flag of Benin.svg Dahomey Flag of France.svg France1960
Flag of France (1794-1815, 1830-1974, 2020-present).svg French West Africa Flag of France.svg Colony of Niger Flag of Niger.svg Niger Flag of France.svg France1960
Flag of France (1794-1815, 1830-1974, 2020-present).svg French West Africa Flag of France.svg Colony of Niger Flag of Senegal.svg Senegal Flag of France.svg France1960
Flag of France (1794-1815, 1830-1974, 2020-present).svg French West Africa Flag of France.svg Colony of Niger Flag of Upper Volta.svg Upper Volta Flag of France.svg France1960
Flag of the Samoa Trust Territory.svg Western Samoa Trust Territory Flag of Samoa.svg Western Samoa Flag of New Zealand.svg New Zealand1962
Flag of the British Windward Islands (1903-1953).svg British Windward Islands Flag of Dominica (1978-1981).svg Dominica Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom1978
Flag of the British Windward Islands (1903-1953).svg British Windward Islands Flag of Grenada.svg Grenada Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom1974
Flag of the British Windward Islands (1903-1953).svg British Windward Islands Flag of Saint Lucia.svg St. Lucia Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom1979
Flag of the British Windward Islands (1903-1953).svg British Windward Islands Flag of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.svg St. Vincent and the Grenadines Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom1979
Flag of Zanzibar Under British Rule.svg Sultanate of Zanzibar Flag of Kenya.svg Kenya Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom1963The Dominion of Kenya was formed by the unification of the Colony of Kenya and the Protectorate of Kenya; the protectorate, a ten-mile-wide (16 km) coastal strip ( Mwambao ), had been under Zanzibari sovereignty and administered by the UK [46]
Flag of Zanzibar Under British Rule.svg Sultanate of Zanzibar Flag of Zanzibar Under British Rule.svg Zanzibar Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom2,6431,0201963The British protectorate over the Sultanate of Zanzibar was terminated in 1963 and the state was admitted to the UN; in 1964, the sultan was deposed and the People's Republic of Zanzibar was proclaimed; later that year, it joined with the Republic of Tanganyika to form the United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar, now Tanzania

Criticism

The list remains controversial in some countries for various reasons:

Referendums

One reason for controversy is that the list includes some dependencies that have democratically chosen to maintain their current status, or have had a referendum in which local government requirements were not met regarding the number of votes required to support a change of status or the number of voters participating (e.g., in the United States Virgin Islands).

Falkland Islands

The Falkland Islands is a British Overseas Territory with a population of 4,000 people and an autonomous government, that is also claimed by Argentina due to an inherited historical colonial claim to the islands by Spain. A ten-week undeclared war was fought in 1982 between Argentina and the United Kingdom, ending with continued British control over the islands. In March 2013, the Falkland Islands government organised a referendum on the status of the territory. With a 92% turnout, 99.7% of Falkland Islands voters voted to maintain the status quo, with only three islanders (0.2%) favouring a change. [47]

Gibraltar

Gibraltar is largely a self-governing British territory on the tip of the Iberian Peninsula with a population of about 30,000 people, whose territory is claimed by Spain. It continues to be listed as an NSGT though its residents expressed a preference in two referendums to retain the status quo. In 1967, they were asked whether to retain their current status or to become part of Spain. The status quo was favoured by 12,138 votes to 44. In 2002, a proposal for a joint British–Spanish administration of the territory was voted down by 17,900 votes to 187. (The "no" vote accounted for more than 85% of Gibraltar's entire electorate). [48] The United Nations did not recognise either referendum, with the 1967 referendum being declared in contravention of previous UN resolutions. [49] The Spanish government does not recognize any right of the current Gibraltar inhabitants to self-determination, on the grounds that they are not the original population of the territory, but residents transferred by the colonial power, the United Kingdom. [50]

Tokelau

The territory of Tokelau divides political opinion in New Zealand. [51] In response to attempts at decolonizing Tokelau, New Zealand journalist Michael Field wrote in 2004: "The UN ... is anxious to rid the world of the last remaining vestiges of colonialism by the end of the decade. It has a list of 16 territories around the world, virtually none of which wants to be independent to any degree." [52] Field further notes that Patuki Isaako, who was head of Tokelau's government at the time of a UN seminar on decolonization in 2004, informed the United Nations that his country had no wish to be decolonized, and that Tokelauans had opposed the idea of decolonization ever since the first visit by UN officials in 1976.

In 2006, a UN-supervised referendum on decolonization was held in Tokelau, where 60.07% of voters supported the offer of self-government. However, the terms of the referendum required a two-thirds majority to vote in favor of self-government. A second referendum was held in 2007, in which 64.40% of Tokelauans supported self-government, falling short of the two-thirds majority by 16 votes. This led New Zealand politician and former diplomat John Hayes, on behalf of the National Party, to state that "Tokelau did the right thing to resist pressure from [the New Zealand government] and the United Nations to pursue self-government". [53] In May 2008, the United Nations' Secretary General Ban Ki-moon urged colonial powers "to complete the decolonization process in every one of the remaining 16 Non-Self-Governing Territories". [54] This led the New Zealand Herald to comment that the United Nations was "apparently frustrated by two failed attempts to get Tokelau to vote for independence from New Zealand". [55]

Viability

A lack of population and landmass is an issue for at least one territory included on the list: the British overseas territory Pitcairn Islands, which has a population of less than 50 descended primarily from indigenous Polynesians and mutineers from HMS Bounty. Regardless, the territory's colonial status was disputed during the 2004 sexual assault trial where the seven defendants – comprising a third of the adult male population – unsuccessfully argued that the islanders had rejected British control ever since the 1789 mutiny and, as a result, British criminal law did not apply to them. Four other territories – Tokelau, Montserrat, the Falkland Islands and Saint Helena – are also less populous than any current UN member state.

In addition, some territories are financially dependent on their administering power.

Completely autonomous dependencies

.mw-parser-output .legend{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .legend-color{display:inline-block;min-width:1.25em;height:1.25em;line-height:1.25;margin:1px 0;text-align:center;border:1px solid black;background-color:transparent;color:black}.mw-parser-output .legend-text{}
Currently listed territories
Formerly listed territories UN Non-Self-Governing Territories.png
  Currently listed territories
  Formerly listed territories

Another criticism is that a number of the listed territories, such as Bermuda (see Politics of Bermuda), the Falkland Islands [56] and Gibraltar, [57] [58] [59] [60] consider themselves completely autonomous and self-governing, with the "administering power" retaining limited oversight over matters such as defence and diplomacy.[ citation needed ] In past years, there were ongoing disputes between some administering powers and the Decolonization Committee over whether territories such as pre-independence Brunei and the West Indies Associated States should still be considered "non-self-governing", particularly in instances where the administering power was prepared to grant full independence whenever the territory requested it. These disputes became moot as those territories eventually received full independence.

Removed under other circumstances

Territories that have achieved a status described by the administering powers as internally self-governing – such as Puerto Rico, the Netherlands Antilles, and the Cook Islands – have been removed from the list by vote of the General Assembly, [6] often under pressure of the administering powers.

Some territories that have been annexed and incorporated into the legal framework of the controlling state (such as the overseas regions of France, and the US states of Alaska and Hawaii) are considered by the UN to have been decolonized, since they then no longer constitute "non-self-governing" entities; their populations are assumed to have agreed to merge with the former parent state. However, in 1961, the General Assembly voted to end this treatment for the "overseas provinces" of Portugal such as Angola and Mozambique, which were active focus of United Nations attention until they attained independence in the mid-1970s.

Territories have also been removed for other reasons. In 1972, for example, Hong Kong (then administered by the United Kingdom) and Macau (then administered by Portugal) were removed from the list at the request of the People's Republic of China, which had just been recognized as holding China's seat at the United Nations. This was due to the PRC's belief that their presence on the list implied eventual independence of the territory, instead of their status being handled by bilateral negotiations. [35]

Change of status

On 2 December 1986, New Caledonia, an overseas territory of France, was reinstated on the list of non-self-governing territories, an action to which France objected. Within France it has had the status of a collectivité sui generis, or a one-of-a-kind community, since 1999. Under the 1998 Nouméa Accord, its Territorial Congress had the right to call for three referendums on independence between 2014 and 2018. The first referendum was held on 4 November 2018 (56.4% against independence), the second referendum on 4 October 2020 (53.26% against independence), and the third referendum on 12 December 2021 (96.50% against independence). While in all three the independence was rejected, the result of the third referendum stems from the boycott by the pro-independence Kanak community in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic in New Caledonia.

French Polynesia was also reinstated on the list on 17 May 2013, in somewhat contentious circumstances. Having been re-elected President of French Polynesia in 2011 (leader of local government), Oscar Temaru asked for it to be re-inscribed on the list; it had been removed in 1947. (French Polynesia is categorised by France as an overseas country, in recognition of its self-governing status.) During the year 2012, Oscar Temaru engaged in intense lobbying with the micro-states of Oceania, many of which, the Solomon Islands, Nauru and Tuvalu, submitted to the UN General Assembly a draft of a resolution to affirm "the inalienable right of the population of French Polynesia to self-determination and independence".

On 5 May 2013, Temaru's Union for Democracy party lost the legislative election to Gaston Flosse's pro-autonomy but anti-independence Tahoera'a Huiraatira party; obtaining only 11 seats against the party of Gaston Flosse, with 38 seats, and the autonomist party A Ti'a Porinetia with 8 seats.

At this stage, the United Nations General Assembly was due to discuss French Polynesia's re-inscription on the list twelve days later, in accordance with a motion tabled by Solomon Islands, Tuvalu and Nauru. On 16 May, the Assembly of French Polynesia, with its new anti-independence majority, adopted a motion asking the United Nations not to restore the country to the list. On 17 May, despite French Polynesia's and France's opposition, the country was restored to the list of non-self-governing territories. Temaru was present for the vote, on the final day of his mandate as president. The United Nations affirmed "the inalienable right of the people of French Polynesia to self-determination and independence".

A few hours before the UN review of the resolution, during its first meeting, the new Territorial Assembly adopted by 46 votes to 10 a "resolution" expressing the desire of Polynesians to maintain their autonomy within the French Republic. In spite of this resolution adopted by the parties representing 70% of the Polynesian voters, the UN General Assembly inscribed French Polynesia on the list of the territories to be decolonized during its plenary assembly of 17 May 2013. France did not take part in this session while the United States, Germany, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom disassociated themselves from this resolution. [61] [62]

List not complete

Also controversial are the criteria set down in 1960 to 1961 by the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 1514 (XV), [63] United Nations General Assembly Resolution 1541 (XV), Principle 12 of the Annex, [64] and United Nations General Assembly Resolution 1654 (XVI) [65] which only focused on colonies of the Western world, namely Australia, Belgium, Denmark, France, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States. This list of administering powers was not expanded afterwards. [66]

Nevertheless, some of the 111 members who joined the UN after 1960 gained independence from countries not covered by Resolution 1541 and were themselves not classified as "Non-Self-Governing Territories" by the UN. Of these that joined the UN between 1960 and 2008, 11 were independent before 1960 and 71 were included on the list (some as a group). Twenty new UN countries resulted from breakup of Second World states and of Yugoslavia: six were part of Yugoslavia, two were part of Czechoslovakia, and 12 were part of the Soviet Union (Ukraine and Belarus already had UN seats before the dissolution of the USSR, whose seat was reused by the Russian Federation without acceding anew). Out of the other ten, seven[ which? ] (mostly Arab) were colonies or protectorates of the "Western" countries, and one each was a non-self-governing part of Ethiopia (later independent Eritrea), Pakistan (East Pakistan, later independent Bangladesh) and Sudan (later independent South Sudan). Also, the Baltic states (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania), which considered themselves illegally occupied by the Soviet Union, were not on the list either. Western New Guinea (also known as West Papua), which was ceded to Indonesia, is also not on the list as well as Sarawak and Sabah, which were handed to Malaya during its territorial expansion through the formation of Malaysia in 1963.[ citation needed ] In 2018, the government of Vanuatu started seeking international support to have West Papua added to the list in 2019. [67] [68]

After the revocation of Norfolk Island's self-governing status by the Australian government in 2015, an island community group requested the UN add the island to the list of non-self-governing territories. [69]

See also

References

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