Question of Southern Rhodesia

UN General Assembly, Question of Southern Rhodesia, A/RES/2022, UN General Assembly, 5 November 1965, https://www.refworld.org/legal/resolution/unga/1965/en/10061 [accessed 13 June 2025]
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XX. RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED ON THE REPORTS OF THE FOURTH COMMITTEE
2022. Question of Southern Rhodesia

The General Assembly, Having examined the chapters of the reports 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 Southern Rhodesia, [1] Recalling its resolutions 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960, 1747 (XVI) of 28 June 1962, 1760 (XVII) of 31 October 1962, 1883 (XVIII) of 14 October 1963, 1889 (XVIII) of 6 November 1963, 1956 (XVIII) of 11 December 1963 and 2012 (XX) of 12 October 1965, the resolutions adopted by the Special Committee on 22 April 1965 [2] and 28 May 1965 [3] and Security Council resolution 202 (1965) of 6 May 1965, Considering that the administering Power has not implemented the above resolutions and that no constitutional progress has been made, Noting that the increasing co-operation between the authorities of Southern Rhodesia, South Africa and Portugal is designed to perpetuate racist minority rule in southern Africa and constitutes a threat to freedom, peace and security in Africa, Noting with grave concern the manifest intention of the present authorities in Southern Rhodesia to proclaim independence unilaterally, which would continue the denial to the African majority of their fundamental rights to freedom and independence, Deeply concerned about the explosive situation in Southern Rhodesia,

1. Approves the chapters of the reports 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 Southern Rhodesia and endorses the conclusions and recommendations contained therein;

2. Reaffirms the right of the people of Southern Rhodesia to freedom and independence and recognizes the legitimacy of their struggle for the enjoyment of their rights as set forth in the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples contained in General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV);

3. Solemnly warns the present authorities in Southern Rhodesia and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, in its capacity as administering Power, that the United Nations will oppose any declaration of independence which is not based on universal adult suffrage;

4. Condemns the policies of racial discrimination and segregation practised in Southern Rhodesia, which constitute a crime against humanity;

5. Condemns any support or assistance rendered by any State to the minority régime in Southern Rhodesia:

6. Calls upon all States to refrain from rendering any assistance whatsoever to the minority régime in Southern Rhodesia;

7. Requests that the administering Power effect immediately:

(a) The release of all political prisoners, political detainees and restricts,

(b) The repeal of all repressive and discriminatory legislation and, in particular, the Law and Order (Maintenance) Act and the Land Apportionment Act;

(c) The removal of all restrictions on African political activity and the establishment of full democratic freedom and equality of political rights;

8. Requests once more the Government of the United Kingdom to suspend the Constitution of 1961 and to call immediately a constitutional conference in which representatives of all political parties will take part, with a view to making new constitutional arrangements on the basis of universal adult suffrage and to fixing the earliest possible date for independence;

9. Appeals to all States to use all their powers against a unilateral declaration of independence and, in any case, not to recognize any government in, Southern Rhodesia which is not representative of the majority of the people;

10. Requests all States to render moral and material help to the people of Zimbabwe in their struggle for freedom and independence;

11. Calls upon the Government of the United Kingdom to employ all necessary measures, including military force, to implement paragraphs 7 and 8 above;

12. Draws the attention of the Security Council to the threats made by the present authorities in Southern Rhodesia including the threat of economic sabotage against the independent African States adjoining Southern Rhodesia;

13. Further draws the attention of the Security Council to the explosive situation in Southern Rhodesia which threatens international peace and security, and decides to transmit to the Council the records and resolutions of the twentieth session of the General Assembly on this question;

14. Decides to keep the question of Southern Rhodesia under urgent and continuing review.

1368th Plenary meeting,
5 November 1965.
[1] Official Records of the General Assembly, Nineteenth Session, Annexes, annex No. 8 (part I) (A/5800/Rev.1), chapter III; ibid., Twentieth Session, Annexes, addendum to agenda item 23 (A/6000/Rev.1), chapter III. [2] Ibid., Twentieth Session, Annexes, addendum to agenda .tem 23 (A/6000/Rev.1), chapter III, para. 292. [3] Ibid., para, 513.
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