The right of peoples to self-determination and its application to peoples under colonial or alien domination or foreign occupation.

1982/15. The right of peoples to self-determination and its application to peoples under colonial or alien domination or foreign occupation[1]55

The Commission on Human Rights, Guided by the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, Bearing in mind the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights[2]56 and other relevant international instruments relating to human rights, Recalling the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, adopted by the General Assembly in resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960, Conscious of its responsibility to promote and encourage observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, Bearing in mind the profound concern of the United Nations, the Organization of African Unity and the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries regarding the decolonization of Western Sahara and the right of the people of that territory to self-determination and independence, Considering the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly on the question of Western Sahara, and more particularly resolution 36/46 of 24 November 1981, and decision 36/406 of 24 November 1981, Taking note of the resolution on the question of Western Sahara adopted by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity at its eighteenth ordinary session,[3]57 hold at Nairobi, Kenya, from 24 to 27 June 1981, and also of the decisions adopted by the Implementation Committee on Western Sahara of the Organization of African unity at its sessions hold at Nairobi from 24 to 26 August 1981[4]58 and from 8 to 9 February 1982, Recalling also resolutions 4 (XXXVI) of 15 February 1980 and 12 (XXXVII) of 6 March 1981 adopted by the Commission on Human Rights at its thirty-sixth and thirty-seventh sessions,

1. Welcomes the decisions and resolutions of the Organization of African Unity and the United Nations to organize throughout the territory of Western Sahara a free and fair referendum on self-determination in order to reach a just and definitive solution to the question of the Western Sahara;

2. Urges to that end the two parties to the conflict, Morocco and the Frente Popular para La Liberación de Sanguia el-Hamra y de Río de Oro (Frente Polisario) to enter into direct negotiations with a view to concluding a cease-fire, which is an indispensable prerequisite for the organization of the referendum on self-determination;

3. Decides to follow closely the developments of the situation in Western Sahara and to consider this question within the framework of the item entitled "The right of peoples to self-determination and its application to peoples under colonial or alien domination or foreign occupation" at its thirty-ninth session, as a matter of high priority.

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[1]55 Adopted at the 38th meeting on 25 February 1982, by a roll-call vote of 27 to 3, with 13 abstentions. See chap. VII. [2]56 General Assembly resolution 217 A (III). [3]57 See A/36/534, annex II, resolution AHG/Res.103 (XVIII). [4]58 See A/36/512-S/14692, annex.