New York, Oct 5, 2013 (SPS) - The United Nations Committee in charge of special political issues and decolonization, also known as the Fourth Committee or Committee of 24, unanimously adopted Friday its work program which will focus on the issue of decolonization of 16 non-autonomous territories, including the Western Sahara , said the UN.
The Committee will begin its work with a general debate to be held from October 7 to 14, which focus on the decolonization issues of the 16 Non-Self-Governing Territories concerned.
During the general debate, participants will examine the information related to the 16 Non-Self-Governing Territories, the economic activities that are detrimental to the interests peoples of these territories, the implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, and the means of education and training offered by UN Member States to the peoples of the these non-self-governing territories.
In addition to Western Sahara , the UN Committee will focus other non- self-governing territories like the Falkland Islands ( Malvinas ), Gibraltar, New Caledonia, Tokelau, American Samoa, Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Guam, Montserrat, Pitcairn, Saint Helena, Turkey and Caicos Islands and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
It should be noted that the UN Secretary-General Mr. Ban Ki -moon has recently reiterated that “colonialism has no place in the modern world,” adding “we enter the third year of the Third International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism.” (SPS)
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