Importance of the universal realization of the right of peoples to self-determination and of the speedy granting of independence to colonial countries and peoples for the effective guarantee and observance of human rights.

  • Author: UN General Assembly (32nd sess. : 1977)
  • Document source:
  • Date:
    7 November 1977

32. RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED ON THE REPORTS OF THE THIRD COMMITTEE
14. Importance of the universal realization of the right of peoples to self-determination and of the speedy granting of independence to colonial countries and peoples for the effective guarantee and observance of human rights

The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 2649 (XXV) of 30 November 1970, 2955 (XXVII) of 12 December 1972, 3070 (XXVIII) of 30 November 1973, 3246 (XXIX) of 29 November 1974, 3382 (XXX) of 10 November 1975 and 31/34 of 30 November 1976, Recalling also its resolutions 2465 (XXIII) of 20 December 1968, 2548 (XXIV) of 11 December 1969, 2708 (XXV) of 14 December 1970, 3103 (XXVIII) of 12 December 1973 and 3314 (XXIX) of 14 December 1974 on the use and recruitment of mercenaries against national liberation movements and sovereign States, Recalling the Maputo Declaration in Support of the Peoples of Zimbabwe and Namibia and the Programme of Action for the Liberation of Zimbabwe and Namibia, adopted by the International Conference in Support of the Peoples of Zimbabwe and Namibia,[1] held at Maputo from 16 to 21 May 1977, and the declaration adopted by the World Conference for Action against Apartheid,[2] held at Lagos from 22 to 26 August 1977, Taking note of the declaration of the First Afro-Arab Summit Conference,[3] held at Cairo from 7 to 9 March 1977, Reaffirming its faith in General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960, containing the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, and the importance of its implementation, Reaffirming the importance of the universal realization of the right of peoples to self-determination, national sovereignty and territorial integrity and of the speedy granting of independence to colonial countries and peoples as imperatives for the enjoyment of human rights, Affirming that "bantustanization" is incompatible with genuine independence, unity and national sovereignty and would have the effect of perpetuating the power of the white minority and the racist system of apartheid in South Africa, Reaffirming the obligation of all Member States to comply with the principles of the Charter and the resolutions of the United Nations regarding the exercise of the right to self-determination by peoples under colonial and alien domination, Welcoming the independence of Djibouti, Reaffirming the national unity and territorial integrity of the Comoros, Indignant at the continued violations of the human rights of the peoples still under colonial and foreign domination and alien subjugation, the continuation of the illegal occupation of Namibia and South Africa's attempts to dismember its territory, the perpetuation of the racist minority régimes in Zimbabwe and South Africa and the denial to the Palestinian people of their inalienable national rights,

1. Calls upon all States to implement fully and faithfully the resolutions of the United Nations regarding the exercise of the right to self-determination by peoples under colonial and alien domination;

2. Reaffirms the legitimacy of the struggle of peoples for independence, territorial integrity, national unity and liberation from colonial and foreign domination and alien subjugation by all available means, including armed struggle;

3. Reaffirms the inalienable right of the peoples of Namibia and Zimbabwe, of the Palestinian people and of all peoples under alien and colonial domination to self-determination, national independence, territorial integrity, national unity and sovereignty without external interference;

4. Demands the immediate evacuation of the French administration and forces from the Comorian territory of Mayotte;

5. Condemns the policy of "bantustanization" and reiterates its support for the oppressed people of South Africa in their just and legitimate struggle against the racist minority régime in Pretoria;

6. Reaffirms that the practice of using mercenaries against national liberation movements and sovereign States constitutes a criminal act and that the mercenaries themselves are criminals, and calls upon the Governments of all countries to enact legislation declaring the recruitment, financing and training of mercenaries in their territory and the transit of mercenaries through their territory to be punishable offences and prohibiting their nationals from serving as mercenaries, and to report on such legislation to the Secretary-General;

7. Condemns the policies of those members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and of other countries whose political, economic, military or sporting relations with the racist régimes in southern Africa and elsewhere encourage these régimes to persist in their suppression of the aspirations of peoples for self-determination and independence;

8. Strongly condemns all Governments which do not recognize the right to self-determination and independence of all peoples still under colonial and foreign domination and alien subjugation, notably the peoples of Africa and the Palestinian people;

9. Strongly condemns the ever increasing massacres of innocent and defenceless people, including women and children, by the racist minority régimes of southern Africa in their desperate attempt to thwart the legitimate demands of the people;

10. Demands the immediate release of all persons detained or imprisoned as a result of their struggle for self-determination and independence, full respect for their fundamental personal rights and the observance of article 5 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, under which no one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment;[4]

11. Notes with appreciation the material and other forms of assistance that peoples under colonial and foreign rule continue to receive from Governments, United Nations agencies and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, and calls for a maximization of this assistance;

12. Looks forward to the publication of the following studies by the Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities:

(a) Historical and current development of the right to self-determination on the basis of the Charter of the United Nations and other instruments adopted by United Nations organs, with particular reference to the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms;

(b) Implementation of United Nations resolutions relating to the right of peoples under colonial and foreign domination to self-determination;

13. Requests the Secretary-General to give maximum publicity to the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples and to give the widest possible publicity to the struggle being.waged by oppressed peoples for the realization of their self-determination and national independence;

14. Decides to consider this item again at its thirty-third session on the basis of the reports that Governments, United Nations agencies and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations have been requested to submit concerning the strengthening of assistance to colonial Territories and peoples under foreign domination and control.

60th plenary meeting
7 November 1977


[1] A/32/Rev.1-S/12344/Rev.1, annex V. For the printed text, see Official Records of the Security Council, Thirty-second Year, Supplement for July, August and September 1977. [2] A/CONF.91/9 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.77.XIV.2 and corrigendum), sect. X. [3] A/32/61, annex I. [4] Resolution 217 A (III).
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