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, G.A. res. 47/16, 47 U.N. GAOR Supp. (No. 49) at 231, U.N. Doc. A/47/49 (1992).


The General Assembly,

Having considered the item entitled "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",

Having considered the reports submitted on the question by the Secretary-Genera1 and the Chairman of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples,

Having examined the chapter of the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples relating to the question,

Recalling its resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960, containing the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, and resolution 1541 (XV) of 15 December 1960, as well as all its other resolutions on this subject, including, in particular, resolution 46/181 of 19 December 1991, endorsing the Plan of Action for the International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism,

Recalling also its resolution S-16/1 of 14 December 1989, the annex to which contains the Declaration on Apartheid and its Destructive Consequences in Southern Africa,

Bearing in mind the relevant provisions of the final documents of the successive Conferences of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries and of the resolutions adopted by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity,

Deeply concerned that the objectives of the Charter of the United Nations and the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples have not been fully achieved,

Recognizing that permanent peace and stability in southern Africa can only be achieved when the system of apartheid in South Africa has been eradicated and South Africa has been transformed into a united, democratic and non-racial country, and reiterating therefore that all the necessary measures should be adopted at the present time to bring a speedy end to the apartheid system in the interest of all the people of southern Africa, the African continent and the world at large,

Noting that the large majority of the remaining colonial Territories are small island Territories,

Recalling its resolution 43/189 of 20 December 1988, concerning specific measures in favour of island developing countries,

Bearing in mind the conclusions and recommendations of the Meeting of Governmental Experts of Island Developing Countries and Donor Countries and Organizations held in New York from 25 to 29 June 1990,

Recalling relevant resolutions of the Caribbean Development and Cooperation Committee concerning the access of colonial Territories to programmes of the United Nations system,

Noting the assistance extended thus far to colonial Territories by certain specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system, in particular the United Nations Development Programme, and considering that such assistance should be expanded further, commensurate with the pressing needs of the peoples concerned for external assistance,

Stressing the importance of securing necessary resources for funding expanded assistance programmes for the peoples concerned and the need to enlist the support of all major funding institutions within the United Nations system in that regard,

Noting with serious concern the continuing effects of the acts of aggression and destabilization that have been committed by South Africa against neighbouring independent African States,

Reaffirming the responsibility of the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system to take all the necessary measures, within their respective spheres of competence, to ensure the full implementation, without further delay, of General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) and other relevant resolutions of the United Nations, particularly those relating to the extension of assistance to the peoples of the colonial Territories,

Expressing its appreciation to the Organization of African Unity, the South Pacific Forum and the Caribbean Community, as well as other regional organizations, for the continued cooperation and assistance they have extended to the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system in this regard,

Concerned by the fact that not all Member States have adhered to the measures provided for in the Programme of Action contained in the Declaration on Apartheid and its Destructive Consequences in Southern Africa, and have thus continued or re-established relations with South Africa in a number of fields,

Bearing in mind the importance of the activities of non-governmental organizations aimed at putting an end to the assistance that is still being rendered to South Africa by some specialized agencies,

Expressing its conviction that closer contacts and consultations between and among the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system and regional organizations help to facilitate the effective formulation of assistance programmes to the peoples concerned,

Mindful of the imperative need to keep under continuous review the activities of the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system in the implementation of the various United Nations decisions relating to decolonization,

Bearing in mind the extremely fragile economies of the small island Territories and their vulnerability to natural disasters, such as hurricanes and cyclones, and recalling relevant resolutions of the General Assembly,

Recalling its resolution 46/70 of 11 December 1991 on cooperation and coordination of the specialized agencies and the international institutions associated with the United Nations in their assistance to Non-Self-Governing Territories,

1. Approves the chapter of the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples relating to the question;

2. Takes note of the report of the Chairman of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples on his consultations with the Acting President of the Economic and Social Council, and endorses the observations and suggestions arising therefrom;

3. Recommends that all States intensify their efforts in the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system to ensure the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples and other relevant resolutions of the United Nations;

4. Reaffirms that the specialized agencies and other organizations and institutions of the United Nations system should continue to be guided by the relevant resolutions of the United Nations in their efforts to contribute to the full implementation, without further delay, of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples and all other relevant General Assembly resolutions;

5. Reaffirms also that the recognition by the General Assembly, the Security Council and other United Nations organs of the legitimacy of the aspiration of colonial peoples to exercise their right to self-determination and independence entails, as a corollary, the extension of all necessary moral and material assistance to those peoples and their national liberation movements by the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system;

6. Expresses its appreciation to those specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system that have continued to cooperate with the United Nations and the regional and subregional organizations in the implementation of General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) and other relevant resolutions of the United Nations, and urges all the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system to accelerate the full and speedy implementation of the relevant provisions of those resolutions;

7. Requests the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system, as well as international and regional organizations, to examine and review conditions in each Territory so as to take appropriate measures to accelerate progress in the economic and social sectors of the Territories;

8. Requests all specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system to strengthen measures of support and formulate adequate programmes of assistance to the peoples of colonial Territories, bearing in mind that such assistance should not only meet their immediate needs but also create conditions for development after they have exercised their right to self-determination and independence;

9. Also requests the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system to provide, through an inter-agency framework, the assistance necessary to small island Territories to alleviate the adverse conditions arising from the interplay of factors relating mainly to their size and geographical location;

10. Further requests the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system, in formulating their assistance programes, to take due account of the conclusions and recommendations, entitled "Challenges and opportunities: a strategic framework", of the Meeting of Governmental Experts of Island Developing Countries and Donor Countries and Organizations held in New York in June 1990;

11. Once again requests the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system to continue to provide all humanitarian, material and moral assistance to Namibia and all newly independent and emerging States so as to enable them to consolidate their political independence and achieve genuine economic independence;

12. Urges the executive heads of the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system, in cooperation with the regional and other organizations where appropriate, to submit to their governing and legislative organs concrete proposals for the full implementation of the relevant United Nations decisions, particularly specific programmes of assistance to the peoples of the colonial Territories and their national liberation movements;

13. Recommends that the executive heads of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund draw the attention of their governing bodies to the present resolution and consider introducing flexible procedures to prepare specific programmes for the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories;

14. Urges the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system that have not already done so to include in the agenda of the regular meetings of their governing bodies a separate item on the progress they have made in the implementation of General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) and other relevant resolutions of the United Nations;

15. Welcomes the continued initiative exercised by the United Nations Development Programme in maintaining close liaison among the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system and in coordinating the activities of the agencies in extending effective assistance to the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories, and calls upon the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system, as a matter of urgency, to contribute generously to the relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts in those Non-Self-Governing Territories affected by natural disasters;

16. Urges the administering Powers concerned to facilitate the participation of the representatives of the Governments of Trust and Non-Self-Governing Territories in the relevant meetings and conferences of the agencies and organizations so that the Territories may draw the maximum benefits from the related activities of the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system;

17. Urges the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system to adhere to the Programme of Action contained in the Declaration on Apartheid and its Destructive Consequences in Southern Africa, in particular with regard to increased support for the opponents of apartheid, the use of concerted and effective measures aimed at applying pressure to ensure a speedy end to apartheid, and ensuring the non-relaxation of existing measures to encourage the South African regime to eradicate apartheid until there is clear evidence of profound and irreversible changes;

18. Stresses, in the context of the Declaration on Apartheid and its Destructive Consequences in Southern Africa, the need for the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system to render all possible assistance to the front-line and neighbouring States to enable them to rebuild their economies, which have been adversely affected by acts of aggression and destabilization by South Africa, to withstand any further such acts and to continue to support the people of South Africa;

19. Invites the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system to cooperate with the Action for Resisting Invasion, Colonialism and Apartheid Fund established by the Eighth Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, held at Harare from 1 to 6 September 1986, with the common objective of providing emergency assistance to the front-line States and national liberation movements struggling against the apartheid regime, and in other measures taken by the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries and the Organization of African Unity;

20. Urges all States, especially those that have economic, financial or other links to South Africa, to adhere fully to the Programme of Action contained in the Declaration on Apartheid and its Destructive Consequences in Southern Africa until the establishment of a united, democratic and non-racial South Africa;

21. Recommends that all Governments intensify their efforts in the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system of which they are members to ensure the full and effective implementation of General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) and other relevant resolutions of the United Nations and, in that connection, accord priority to the question of providing assistance on an emergency basis to the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories;

22. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to assist the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system in working out appropriate measures for implementing the relevant resolutions of the United Nations and to prepare for submission to the relevant bodies, with the assistance of those agencies and organizations, a report on the action taken in implementation of the relevant resolutions, including the present resolution, since the circulation of his previous report;

23. Commends the Economic and Social Council for its debate and resolution on this issue and requests it to continue, as appropriate, to consider, in consultation with the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, appropriate measures for coordination of the policies and activities of the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system in implementing the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly;

24. Requests the specialized agencies to report periodically to the Secretary-General on the implementation of the present resolution;

25. Requests the Secretary-General to transmit the present resolution to the governing bodies of the appropriate specialized agencies and international institutions associated with the United Nations so that those bodies take the necessary measures to implement the resolution, and also requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its forty-eighth session on the implementation of the present resolution;

26. Requests the Special Committee to continue to examine the question and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its forty-eighth session.

61st plenary meeting
16 November 1992


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