UN Documentation: Decolonization

The concept of decolonization is not explicitly mentioned in the Charter of the United Nations. Chapter XI, Declaration regarding Non-Self-Governing Territories, and Chapters XII and XIII regarding Trusteeship, form the basis for the UN's consideration of the topic.

The General Assembly and the Trusteeship Council are the main bodies that consider matters related to self-determination and decolonization. Some cases considered by the International Court of Justice have concerned matters related to decolonization.

The General Assembly's Fourth Committee and the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples are the main subsidiaries of the General Assembly that work on this topic.

Chapter XI : Articles 73-74 : Declaration Regarding Non-Self-Governing Territories

Chapter XII : Articles 75-85 : International Trusteeship System

Chapter XIII : Articles 86-91 : The Trusteeship Council

• Article 86 : Composition
• Articles 87-88 : Functions and Powers
• Article 89 : Voting
• Articles 90-91 : Procedure

The General Assembly is the main body with oversight on matters relating to decolonization.

• Fourth Committee
  • ​Main committee of the General Assembly concerned with decolonization, among other topics
  • Reviews reports of subsidiaries on matters related to decolonization, including reports of
    • Trusteeship Council
    • Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples
  • Hears petitioners in open formal meetings, see meeting records
  • Makes recommendations to General Assembly plenary on decolonization matters
• Trusteeship Council
  • Principal organ of the UN
  • Active from 1946-1994
  • Now meets infrequently
  • Considered only the 11 trust territories
• Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples
  • Established by A/RES/1654 (XVI) of 27 November 1961
  • Considers situation in Non-Self-Governing Territories

• Committees on Information Transmitted under Article 73e of the Charter

  • ​​​​​​​Article 73e of the Charter requires UN Member States which administer "territories whose peoples have not yet attained a full measure of self-government" to transmit to the Secretary-General information related to the economic, social and educational conditions in the territories. Several committees were established to review the information provided under Article 73e from 1947-1963.​​​​​​​

Related Research Guides

There are numerous UN documents related to non-self-governing territories, self-determination, decolonization and related topics. This list highlights some of the most widely cited documents.

Charter of the United Nations

• Chapter XI, Articles 73-74: Declaration regarding Non-Self Governing Territories
• Chapter XII, Articles 75-85: International Trusteeship System
• Chapter XIII, Articles 86-91: Trusteeship Council

General Assembly Resolutions

• Non-self-governing peoples
  • A/RES/9 (I) of 9 Feb. 1946
• Transmission of Information under Article 73e of the Charter
  • ​A/RES/66 (I) of 14 Dec. 1946
• Participation of the Non-Self-Governing Territories in the work of the United Nations and of the specialized agencies
  • A/RES/1466 (XIV) of 12 Dec. 1959
• Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples
  • A/RES/1514 (XV) of 14 Dec. 1960
  • Procedural History in the Audiovisual Library of International Law
• Principles which should guide Members in determining whether or not an obligation exists to transmit the information called for under Article 73e of the Charter
  • A/RES/1541 (XV) of 15 Dec. 1960
• The situation with regard to the implementation of the Declaration on the granting of independence to colonial countries and peoples
  • A/RES/1654 (XVI) of 27 Nov. 1961
• Permanent sovereignty over natural resources
  • A/RES/1803 (XVII) of 14 Dec. 1962
  • Procedural History in the Audiovisual Library of International Law
• Strict observance of the prohibition of the threat or use of force in international relations, and of the right of peoples to self-determination
  • A/RES/2160 (XXI) of 30 Nov. 1966
• International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
  • A/RES/2200 (XXI) of 16 Dec. 1966
• Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations
  • A/RES/2625 (XXV) of 24 Oct. 1970
• Declaration on the Establishment of a New International Economic Order
  • A/RES/3201 (S-VI) of 1 May 1974
• Programme of Action on the Establishment of a New International Economic Order
  • A/RES/3202 (S-VI) of 1 May 1974
• Charter of Economic Rights and Duties of States
  • A/RES/3281 (XXIX) of 12 Dec. 1974
• Declaration on the Right to Development
  • A/RES/41/128 of 4 Dec. 1986
• International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism (1990-2000)
  • A/RES/43/47 of 22 Nov. 1988
• Second International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism (2001-2010)
  • A/RES/55/146 of 8 Dec. 2000
• United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
  • A/RES/61/295 of 13 Sep. 2007
• Third International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism (2011-2020)
  • A/RES/65/119 of 10 Dec. 2010
• Fourth International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism (2021-2030)
  • A/RES/75/123 of 10 Dec. 2020

Human Rights Bodies Documents

• Human Rights Committee
  • General Comment No. 12 on the right to self-determination, CCPR/C/21/Rev.1, pages 10-12
• Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD)
  • General Recommendation No. 21 on the right to self-determination, A/51/18, pages 125-126
• Reports of the Special Rapporteur of the Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities
  • The right to self-determination : historical and current development on the basis of United Nations instruments : study prepared by Aureliu Cristescu
    • E/CN.4/Sub.2/404/Rev.1
  • The right to self-determination : implementation of United Nations resolutions : study prepared by Héctor Gros Espiell
    • E/CN.4/Sub.2/405/Rev.1 + Corr.1
    • Includes extensive multilingual bibliography

Reports of the Secretary-General

There are several recurrent reports prepared by the Secretariat or issued by the Secretary-General including:

• Dissemination of information on decolonization​
• Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples by the specialized agencies and the International institutions associated with the United Nations
• Information from Non-Self-Governing Territories transmitted under Article 73e of the Charter of the United Nations
• Offers by Member States of study and training facilities for inhabitants of Non-Self-Governing Territories 
• Right of peoples to self-determination
• Working papers on individual territories

Available Translations