Programme of Activities in Observance of the Twenty-fifth Anniversary of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples : resolution / adopted by the General Assembly

 

RESOLUTION ADOPTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Programme of Activities in Observance of the Twenty-fifth Anniversary of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples

  The General Assembly, Having considered the relevant 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, Bearing in mind that the year 1985 will mark the fortieth anniversary of the establishment of the United Nations, as well as the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, Emphasizing the importance of the occasion to evaluate the progress achieved during the period in the process of decolonization, in particular in the implementation of the Declaration during the past twenty-five years, as well as the role played by the United Nations and its system of organizations in that regard, and to formulate specific measures for the elimination of the remaining vestiges of colonialism in all its forms and manifestations in various areas of the world,

1. Approves the relevant 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 and endorses the Programme of Activities in Observance of the Twenty-fifth Anniversary of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples set out in the annex to the present resolution;

2. Commends the Programme, for appropriate action, to all States, the United Nations bodies concerned, the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system and the non-governmental organizations active in the field of decolonization;

3. Requests the Special Committee, in connection with the observance of the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Declaration, to co-operate and work closely with the Preparatory Committee for the Fortieth Anniversary of the United Nations;

4. Requests the Secretary-General to assist in the implementation of the present resolution and, in particular, to make adequate resources available for undertaking the measures envisaged in the Programme;

5. Requests the Special Committee to report to the General Assembly at its fortieth session on the implementation of the present resolution.

ANNEX Programme of Activities in Observance of the Twenty-fifth Anniversary of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples

1. The commemoration of the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples would be an appropriate occasion to evaluate the progress achieved during the past twenty-five years in the implementation of the Declaration, as well as the role played by the United Nations and its system of organizations in that regard, and to formulate specific measures for the elimination of the remaining vestiges of colonialism in all its forms and manifestations in various areas of the world. To that end, the following special programme of activities is envisaged.

A. Activities at the international level Commemorative meeting of the General Assembly

2. The General Assembly shall hold a special commemorative meeting in observance of the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Declaration, it being understood that the specific modalities and procedures for the commemoration would be the subject of subsequent consultations between the President of the Assembly 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.

3. The meeting shall be held on Friday, 13 December 1985, or alternatively, in October 1985 in conjunction with ceremonies planned for the celebration of the fortieth anniversary of the United Nations and the proclamation of 1986 as International Year of Peace, in the light of the presence at United Nations Headquarters of a number of heads of State or Government.

Extraordinary session of the Special Committee

4. The Special Committee shall organize an extraordinary session away from Headquarters in 1985, as appropriate.

Special declaration/final document to be adopted by the General Assembly

5. The Special Committee shall prepare in 1985 the draft text of a special declaration/final document with a view to facilitating the full and speedy implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, for submission to the General Assembly at its fortieth session.

Seminars to be held by the Special Committee

6. The Special Committee shall hold in 1985 two regional seminars on the subject of decolonization.

7. The Special Committee shall organize, in close consultation with the Department of Public Information of the Secretariat, a seminar on dissemination of information on decolonization and on the struggle of the peoples of southern Africa and their national liberation movements, to be held at United Nations Headquarters in close co-operation with the Special Committee against Apartheid, the United Nations Council for Namibia, the Organization of African Unity and the national liberation movements, with the participation of press agencies, newspapers and other mass communication media.

Activities by the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system, other international organizations and the non-governmental organizations concerned

8. The organizations concerned are requested to undertake various activities in commemoration of the anniversary during 1985. These activities may include the preparation of special publications and studies and the holding of exhibits, seminars and symposia. An account of the activities undertaken should be given the widest possible publicity.

9. The organizations concerned are requested to draw up concrete programmes of assistance to the peoples of colonial Territories and the national liberation movements, as well as to the refugees from Territories under colonial domination. In particular, they are requested to launch new projects for assisting the Namibian people and seek additional funds in support of such projects.

Dissemination of information on decolonization

10. The Secretary-General is requested to take concrete measures through all the media at his disposal to give widespread and intensified publicity to the situation in the Territories concerned and to the work of the United Nations in the field of decolonization. In particular, the Department of Public Information, the Department of Political Affairs,

Trusteeship and Decolonization and the Office of the United Nations Commissioner for Namibia are requested, in consultation with the Special Committee:

(a) To prepare special publications devoted to the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Declaration, including special issues of Decolonization, Objective: Justice, the Namibia Bulletin and the United Nations and Decolonization;

(b) To produce a special film on the theme of decolonization and to hold public screenings of the film, as well as other films concerning the process of decolonization;

(c) To prepare and distribute to national radio and television stations audio-visual materials on decolonization;

(d) To hold exhibitions of photographs and publications related to decolonization, both at United Nations Headquarters and at various United Nations information centres;

(e) To organize special briefings of non-governmental organizations on the subject of decolonization.

Other activities

11. The motto "Decolonization, Freedom, Independence" shall mark the anniversary.

12. The Secretary-General is requested:

(a) To arrange for a special postal cancellation and the issuance of a special cachet, through the United Nations Postal Administration;

(b) To issue a commemorative medal marking the anniversary, to be conferred upon eminent personalities by the Special Committee;

(c) To publicize the foregoing through the appropriate media.

B. Activities at the regional level

13. Intergovernmental regional organizations are requested, in co-operation with the United Nations, to intensify their activities designed to help eliminate the last vestiges of colonialism and, to that end, to increase their collaboration with one another. They may also hold commemorative meetings and seminars, prepare special studies on various aspects of colonial questions and adopt measures to increase moral and material assistance to the peoples concerned.

C. Activities at the national level

14. Special messages may be issued on the occasion of the anniversary by heads of State or Government and other high-ranking officials, as well as by representatives of political movements, religious organizations, trade unions and other national organizations.

15. Governments are requested to establish, in co-operation with national United Nations associations, national committees for the commemoration of the anniversary to plan and co-ordinate various activities to be undertaken in 1985 within the context of the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Declaration and the fortieth anniversary of the United Nations, such as publicizing the work of the United Nations on decolonization through, inter alia, publications, educational programmes in schools and universities, special studies, seminars and radio-television programmes, including the widest possible dissemination in their national languages of the Declaration and the various resolutions and decisions of the United Nations on decolonization; the conferring of national awards or special scholarships for outstanding studies or essays on colonial questions; and the issuance of a commemorative postage stamp and other activities. In particular,

Governments are requested to prepare special educational materials on the subject of decolonization for dissemination through schools, universities and other educational institutions, including information on past achievements and the roles played by the national liberation movements, the Organization of African Unity and the United Nations.

16. In undertaking the above activities, particular attention shall be devoted to the various manifestations of colonialism, including racial discrimination and apartheid, activities of foreign economic and other interests impeding the implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples and military activities and arrangements by colonial Powers in Territories under their administration impeding the implementation of the Declaration.