The Special Committee on Decolonisation held a meeting on Monday to finalize the guidelines and procedural rules for its upcoming 2025 Pacific Regional Seminar, which is set to occur in Dili, Timor-Leste, from May 21 to 23. The committee, comprising 29 members, is dedicated to the implementation of the Declaration on Granting Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. Its annual seminars rotate between the Caribbean and Pacific regions and focus on reviewing efforts to eliminate colonialism worldwide.
Menissa Rambally, the Chair of the Special Committee from Saint Lucia, stressed the necessity of timely nominations from various regional groups for participants, given the official delegation’s size of ten members. The committee plans to extend invitations to a range of stakeholders, including experts, representatives from non-governmental organizations, and officials from Non-Self-Governing Territories, along with representatives from administering Powers and regional organizations.
The issue of financial constraints emerged as a pressing concern, compelling the Chair to advocate for efficient communication to curb travel costs linked with participation. The committee unanimously approved the seminar’s guidelines and procedures, which mainly feature technical updates.
A representative from Fiji underscored the significance of the forthcoming Regional Seminar, calling for the Special Committee to concentrate on viable strategies for Non-Self-Governing Territories, especially those that are less economically developed. The delegate requested an informal working paper to evaluate the current landscape and propose practical measures to advance the decolonization agenda more effectively.
The committee also announced the cancellation of an informal consultation initially scheduled for June, as part of ongoing financial measures considering the UN’s budgetary constraints.
As it stands, 17 Non-Self-Governing Territories, such as American Samoa, Bermuda, French Polynesia, and the Cayman Islands, remain under consideration, with oversight from administering Powers including France, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Established by the General Assembly through resolution 1654 in 1961, the Special Committee continues to be pivotal in advocating for decolonization.
Fiji has recently reaffirmed its commitment to decolonization, aligning itself with the positions of regional collectives such as the Pacific Islands Forum and the Melanesian Spearhead Group. Notably, Fiji’s unique stance against a UN resolution regarding the decolonization agenda highlights the necessity for concentrated discussions on sensitive issues not fully encompassed by the Special Committee’s mandate.
This meeting, along with ongoing dialogue, showcases a dedicated approach to addressing historical grievances and advancing the decolonization initiative, underlining the importance of cooperation and dialogue among nations. The commitment to these discussions signals hope for achieving meaningful progress in addressing the complexities of colonial history and improving the status of affected territories.
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