Week of Solidarity with the Peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories & Rights

Seventeen territories worldwide still wait for self-governance. Their 2 million residents live under colonial administration while the global community marks progress elsewhere. The Week of Solidarity with the Peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories runs May 25-31 annually for them.

UN General Assembly Resolution 54/91 established this observance in December 1999, highlighting stalled decolonization processes affecting diverse populations from Pacific atolls to Caribbean islands.

When the United Nations formed in 1945, approximately 750 million people lived under colonial rule. Today fewer than 2 million remain in this status across 17 territories. Progress has completely stalled since Timor-Leste gained independence in 2002.

Quick Links: Week of Solidarity with the Peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories

Why This Week Matters for Global Territorial Justice

Solidarity Week serves as an annual push for advancing decolonization conversations that impact 2+ million people across strategic locations worldwide. These discussions often stagnate. Territorial populations want greater autonomy while administering powers manage complex relationships.

These are the nations that currently administer the remaining territories:

The Special Committee on Decolonization operates under Ambassador Menissa Rambally of Saint Lucia's leadership. This committee's 29 UN member states intensify their focus during solidarity week on case-by-case territorial approaches rather than generic resolutions.

And the work continues year-round through UN channels.

Current Reality of Non-Self-Governing Territories

Geographic diversity defines these remaining territories, spanning the Atlantic, Pacific, and Caribbean regions. Western Sahara contains 582,000 people across 266,000 square kilometers, while Pitcairn houses just 43 residents on 35.5 square kilometers.

New Caledonia holds 268,767 people; French Polynesia contains 276,300; Guam maintains 163,875 residents with strategic military importance. Most territories face shared challenges despite different circumstances—limited political autonomy restricts local decision-making authority.

Resource control remains constrained under administrative oversight. According to UN Secretary-General António Guterres, these territories "are on the front lines of the climate crisis facing rising seas and extreme weather".

Sixteen of 17 territories are island-based, making them vulnerable to climate impacts. The Falkland Islands sovereignty dispute shows these complex territorial dynamics. Multiple parties claim legitimate interests while residents express clear preferences about their future status.

Timeline of Solidarity Week Development

• 1945:

  UN Charter establishes international trusteeship system

• 1960:

  Declaration on Decolonization adopted by UN General Assembly

• 1999:

  Resolution 54/91 establishes Week of Solidarity observance

• 2000:

  First official Week of Solidarity observed globally

Strategic Ways to Amplify Territorial Voices During the Week

Schools and advocacy groups can create meaningful solidarity beyond symbolic recognition during this annual period. These approaches carry genuine impact:

• Partner with territorial organizations directly - Connect with territorial advocacy groups to amplify authentic voices during peak international attention.
• Host UN headquarters symposium viewing parties - Stream the latest official Solidarity Week sessions while providing local context and discussion opportunities. Sessions of the Special Committee on Decolonization (C-24) are publicly available by the end of June every year.
• Develop targeted educational campaigns. Create accessible materials explaining territorial situations and self-governance principles.
• Organize community dialogue sessions - Facilitate conversations linking territorial rights to broader human rights frameworks.
• Support territorial solidarity networks - territorial organizations need resources and expertise. They intensify decolonization advocacy during this period.
• Document territorial stories through media - Produce podcasts, articles, or video content featuring territorial perspectives, releasing during solidarity week for maximum reach. Some territories lack basic media coverage.

Core Themes Driving Territorial Self-Governance

Money shapes everything here. Many territories depend heavily on single sectors like tourism or imports from administering powers. This economic vulnerability limits authentic self-governance options. True autonomy requires diversified economic foundations.

Cultural preservation intersects with political autonomy in complex ways. Indigenous Chamorro populations in Guam face impacts from military expansion "destroying and otherwise limiting access to traditional harvesting grounds for medicinal plants".

Beyond this, solidarity week can spotlight cultural protection needs alongside political rights.

Democratic participation takes various forms across different territorial relationships. The Special Committee has adopted over 40 resolutions regarding Puerto Rico's status, reaffirming "the inalienable right of the people of Puerto Rico to self-determination and independence".

Extending Solidarity Beyond One Week

Year-round territorial advocacy requires sustained engagement through UN channels, such as the Special Committee on Decolonization that meets regularly. This provides ongoing opportunities for international attention,

Territorial partnership organizations offer direct ways to maintain solidarity connections from the week. These groups work continuously on territorial situations, providing expertise and advocacy that extends the week's momentum year-round.

In practice, educational initiatives create lasting awareness foundations that Solidarity Week can launch. When schools, universities, and community organizations integrate territorial rights education, they build understanding supporting long-term progress rather than fleeting annual attention.

Fight for other causes by also joining International Day Against Nuclear Tests and International Day For The Abolition Of Slavery.

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FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)