United Nations (TDI): The United Nations General Assembly’s Third Committee, responsible for social, humanitarian, and cultural matters, on Monday unanimously adopted a resolution reaffirming the right to self-determination for peoples subjected to colonial, foreign, and alien occupation.
The resolution, spearheaded by Pakistan, underscores the global commitment to freedom and dignity for all.
Pakistan’s UN Ambassador Munir Akram, who introduced the resolution co-sponsored by sixty-five nations, said it aimed to foster “a world where every community, every nation, and every individual can live in dignity, free from oppression, and with the ability to shape their destiny.”
This resolution, sponsored by Pakistan since 1981, serves as a reminder of the struggles of peoples in territories like Palestine and Kashmir who continue to seek their inalienable right to self-determination.
It is set to be formally endorsed by the General Assembly next month.
The text firmly opposes acts of foreign military intervention and occupation that suppress self-determination, urging responsible states to cease such actions immediately.
The resolution also deplores the displacement of millions due to these interventions, reaffirming the right of refugees to return to their homes in safety and dignity.
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Ambassador Akram highlighted the enduring relevance of self-determination, a principle enshrined in the UN Charter and other international covenants.
He emphasized that while many nations have achieved liberation through this right, the plight of those still denied freedom cannot be overlooked.
“In certain situations of foreign occupation, we see a systematic denial of self-determination through demographic manipulation, military oppression, and the suppression of basic freedoms,” he said, warning that such actions not only violate international law but also jeopardise global peace and security.
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The resolution calls on the Human Rights Council to prioritise addressing violations stemming from foreign occupation and requests the UN Secretary-General to report on the issue at the next General Assembly session.
Adopted without a vote, the resolution sends a strong message of solidarity to oppressed peoples worldwide, reaffirming the universality and indivisibility of the right to self-determination.
