{"id":315701,"date":"2025-08-13T15:04:14","date_gmt":"2025-08-13T19:04:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/?post_type=document&p=315701"},"modified":"2026-03-05T15:04:34","modified_gmt":"2026-03-05T20:04:34","slug":"right-of-peoples-to-self-determination-report-of-the-secretary-general-a-80-335","status":"publish","type":"document","link":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/document\/right-of-peoples-to-self-determination-report-of-the-secretary-general-a-80-335\/","title":{"rendered":"Right of peoples to self-determination – Report of the Secretary-General (A\/80\/335)"},"content":{"rendered":"

 <\/p>\n

13 August 2025<\/p>\n

Eightieth session<\/strong><\/p>\n

Item 71 of the provisional agenda*<\/p>\n

Right of peoples to self-determination<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Right of peoples to self-determination<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Report of the Secretary-General<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

Summary<\/strong>:<\/em><\/h3>\n

The present report is submitted pursuant to General Assembly resolution 79\/164<\/a>, in which the Assembly requested the Secretary-General to submit to it at its eightieth session a report on the universal realization of the right of peoples to self-determination. The report provides a summary of the main developments relating to the realization of the right to self-determination within the framework of the activities of the principal organs of the United Nations since the submission of the previous report (A\/79\/315<\/a>), demonstrating the engagement of the United Nations system in the realization of the right of peoples to self-determination.<\/p>\n

\n

I. Introduction<\/strong><\/h3>\n
    \n
  1. Pursuant to General Assembly resolution 79\/164<\/a>, the present report provides a summary of the main developments, from June 2024 to May 2025, relating to the realization of the right of all peoples to self-determination within the framework of the activities of the main organs of the United Nations. The report also includes references to resolutions of the Human Rights Council and reports by the Council\u2019s special procedure mandate holders, subsidiary expert mechanisms and mandated investigative bodies. It further references jurisprudence and concluding observations issued by various United Nations human rights treaty bodies in their consideration of individual communications and periodic reports submitted by States Parties.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    II. Security Council<\/strong><\/h3>\n
      \n
    1. In accordance with Security Council resolution 2703 (2023)<\/a>, the Secretary-General submitted to the Council a report on the situation concerning Western Sahara (S\/2024\/707<\/a>). The report covered developments since the previous report (S\/2023\/729<\/a>) and provided a description of the situation on the ground, the status of political negotiations, the implementation of Council resolution 2703 (2023)<\/a> and existing challenges to the operations of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara and steps taken to address them.<\/li>\n
    2. In his report to the Security Council, the Secretary-General noted that the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) had been unable to conduct any visits to Western Sahara for the ninth consecutive year, despite multiple requests and despite the Council urging the facilitation of such visits (S\/2024\/707<\/a>, para. 72). OHCHR had continued to receive reports of hindrance, intimidation and harassment against Sahrawi activists advocating the right to self-determination, reflecting an increasingly shrinking civic space. The Secretary-General pointed out that the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention of the Human Rights Council had observed a violation of a Sahrawi journalist\u2019s right to a fair trial, and referred to a Moroccan court decision denying a Sahrawi human rights defender a licence to practise law. He noted both instances as raising concerns regarding freedom of expression and association and the right to work (ibid., para. 74). In addition, the report indicated that the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination had expressed concerns regarding the targeting, intimidation and surveillance faced by Sahrawi activists, human rights defenders, student movements and organizations (ibid., para. 75). Furthermore, it highlighted reports received by OHCHR on the dire conditions of detention of Sahrawi prisoners; grave concerns expressed by the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention regarding the number of suspected cases of arbitrary detention in Western Sahara; and reports of exploitation of natural resources without meaningful consultations with, or participation of, affected communities (ibid., paras. 76 and 77).<\/li>\n
    3. Having considered the report of the Secretary-General, the Security Council adopted resolution 2756 (2024)<\/a>, in which it called upon the parties to resume negotiations under the auspices of the Secretary-General without preconditions and in good faith, with a view to achieving a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution, which would provide for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara, and noted the role and responsibilities of the parties in that respect (para. 4).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      III. General Assembly<\/strong><\/h3>\n

      A. Non-Self-Governing Territories<\/strong><\/p>\n

        \n
      1. In its resolution 79\/95<\/a>, the General Assembly reaffirmed the right of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories to self-determination in conformity with the Charter of the United Nations, General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV)<\/a> and other relevant resolutions of the United Nations, as well as their right to the enjoyment of their natural resources and their right to dispose of those resources in their best interest (para. 1). It requested the Secretary-General to continue to inform world public opinion of any activity that affected the exercise of the right of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories to self-determination (para. 13).<\/li>\n
      2. In its resolution 79\/96<\/a>, the General Assembly reaffirmed that the recognition of the legitimacy of the aspirations of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories to exercise their right to self-determination entailed, as a corollary, the extension of all appropriate assistance to those peoples (para. 4).<\/li>\n
      3. In its resolution 79\/113<\/a>, the General Assembly considered it important to continue and expand its efforts to ensure the widest possible dissemination of information on decolonization, with particular emphasis on the options for self-determination available for the peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories, and requested the Department of Global Communications to actively engage and seek innovative ways to disseminate material to the Territories (para. 2).[1]<\/a><\/li>\n
      4. In its resolution 79\/114<\/a>, the General Assembly called upon the administering Powers, in accordance with resolution 1514 (XV)<\/a> and all other resolutions and decisions on decolonization, to take all steps necessary to enable the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories to exercise fully their right to self-determination, including independence, on a case-by-case basis (para. 1). It affirmed its continued support for the aspirations of the peoples under colonial rule to exercise their right to self-determination, including independence, and requested the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples to, inter alia, continue examining the political, economic and social situation in the Non-Self-Governing Territories and to recommend to the Assembly the most suitable steps to be taken to enable the populations of those Territories to exercise their right to self-determination, including independence (paras. 4 and 8 (c)).<\/li>\n
      5. In paragraphs 1\u20133 of its resolutions 79\/99<\/a>, 79\/100<\/a>, 79\/101<\/a>, 79\/102<\/a>, 79\/103<\/a>, 79\/104<\/a>, 79\/105<\/a>, 79\/106<\/a>, 79\/108<\/a>, 79\/109<\/a>, 79\/111<\/a> and 79\/112<\/a>, on specific Territories, the General Assembly reaffirmed the inalienable right to self-determination of the peoples of, respectively, American Samoa, Anguilla, Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, French Polynesia, Guam, Montserrat, Pitcairn, Saint Helena, the Turks and Caicos Islands and the United States Virgin Islands, in conformity with the Charter and with resolution 1514 (XV)<\/a>. The Assembly also reaffirmed that, in the process of decolonization of those Territories, there was no alternative to the principle of self-determination, which was a fundamental right recognized under the relevant human rights conventions. The Assembly further reaffirmed that it was ultimately for the people of those Territories to determine freely their future political status and called upon the respective administering Powers, in cooperation with the territorial Governments and appropriate United Nations bodies, to develop political education programmes for the Territories in order to foster awareness among the people of their right to self-determination.<\/li>\n
      6. In its resolution 79\/104<\/a>, on the question of French Polynesia, the Assembly called upon the administering Power to initiate a dialogue with the Government of French Polynesia in order to facilitate rapid progress towards a fair and effective self-determination process, under which the terms and timelines for an act of self-determination would be agreed (para. 12). Similarly, in its resolution 79\/105<\/a>, on the question of Guam, the Assembly called once again upon the administering Power to take into consideration the expressed will of the CHamoru people as supported by Guam voters in the referendum of 1987 and as subsequently provided for in Guam law regarding CHamoru self-determination efforts, encouraged the administering Power and the territorial Government to enter into negotiations on the matter and requested the Territory and the administering Power to take all measures necessary to protect and conserve the environment of the Territory against any degradation and the impact of militarization (paras. 6 and 16). In its resolution 79\/108<\/a>, on the question of Pitcairn, the Assembly also welcomed all efforts by the administering Power and the territorial Government that would further devolve operational responsibilities to the Territory, with a view to gradually expanding self-government, including through the training of local personnel (para. 4). In its resolution 79\/112<\/a>, on the question of the United States Virgin Islands, the Assembly welcomed the establishment of the Office of Self-Determination and Constitutional Development in the University of the Virgin Islands, with funding from the administering Power, to address the issue of self-determination, including political status and constitutional education (para. 6).<\/li>\n
      7. In its resolution 79\/98<\/a>, on the question of Western Sahara, the General Assembly reiterated its support for the process of negotiations initiated by Security Council resolution 1754 (2007)<\/a> and sustained by successive Council resolutions, with a view to achieving a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution, which would provide for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara, and commended the efforts undertaken by the Secretary-General and his Personal Envoy for Western Sahara in that respect (para. 2).<\/li>\n
      8. In its resolution 79\/107<\/a>, on the question of New Caledonia, the General Assembly reaffirmed that it was ultimately for the people of New Caledonia to determine freely and fairly their future political status in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Charter, the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples and the relevant resolutions of the Assembly. In that connection, the Assembly called upon the administering Power, in cooperation with the territorial Government and appropriate bodies of the United Nations system, to develop political education programmes for the Territory in order to foster an awareness among the people of their right to self-determination (para. 4). The Assembly recalled the peaceful conduct of the self-determination referendums on 4\u00a0November 2018 and 4 October 2020 and their outcomes, recalled the holding of the third self-determination referendum on 12 December 2021, and reiterated the call upon the administering Power and all relevant stakeholders in New Caledonia to ensure the peaceful, fair, just and transparent conduct of the next steps of the self-determination process (paras. 7 and 8). It called upon the administering Power to consider further strengthening the education programme to inform the people of New Caledonia about the nature of self-determination so that they might be better prepared to face a future decision on the matter (para. 13).<\/li>\n
      9. In its resolution 79\/110<\/a>, on the question of Tokelau, the General Assembly took note with appreciation of the decision of the General Fono on 23 May 2022 to revisit the views of the people of Tokelau and revive the dialogue on the question of self-determination for Tokelau in the lead-up to the centenary of New Zealand administration of Tokelau in February 2026 (para. 1).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        B. Use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the right of peoples to self-determination<\/strong><\/p>\n

          \n
        1. In its resolution 79\/162<\/a>, on the use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the right of peoples to self-determination, the General Assembly urged all States to take the steps necessary, exercise vigilance and take legislative measures to ensure that territories under their control were not used for, and that their nationals did not take part in, the recruitment, assembly, financing, training, protection or transit of mercenaries for the planning of activities designed to impede the right of peoples to self-determination, to destabilize or overthrow the Government of any State or to dismember or impair the territorial integrity or political unity of sovereign and independent States conducting themselves in accordance with the right of peoples to self-determination (para. 4). The Assembly condemned recent mercenary activities in developing countries, in particular in areas of conflict, and the threat they posed to the right of their peoples to self-determination (para. 10). It also requested the Working Group on the use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the right of peoples to self-determination to continue to study and identify sources and causes, emerging issues, manifestations and trends regarding mercenaries or mercenary-related activities and private military and security companies and their impact on human rights, particularly on the right to self-determination (para. 16). In addition, the Assembly requested OHCHR to publicize the adverse effects of the activities of mercenaries on self-determination (para. 17).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          C. Right of the Palestinian people to self-determination<\/strong><\/p>\n

            \n
          1. In its resolutions 79\/163<\/a> and 79\/81<\/a>, the General Assembly reaffirmed, and called for the realization of, the inalienable right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, including the right to an independent State of Palestine (paras. 1 and 15 (b), respectively). It also urged all States and the specialized agencies and organizations of the United Nations system to continue to support and assist the Palestinian people in the early realization of their right to self-determination (resolution 79\/163<\/a>, para. 2).<\/li>\n
          2. In its resolution 79\/229<\/a>, the General Assembly reaffirmed the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and of the population of the occupied Syrian Golan over their natural resources, including land, water and energy resources (para. 1).<\/li>\n
          3. In its resolution ES-10\/24<\/a>, the General Assembly welcomed the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice of 19 July 2024 on the legal consequences arising from the policies and practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and from the illegality of the continued presence of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (para. 1). The Assembly demanded that Israel comply without delay with all its legal obligations under international law, including as stipulated by Court, by, inter alia, not impeding the Palestinian people from exercising its right to self-determination, including its right to an independent and sovereign State, over the entirety of the Occupied Palestinian Territory (para. 3 (g)). The Assembly further called upon all States to comply with their obligations under international law, inter alia, as reflected in the advisory opinion, including their obligation to promote, through joint and separate action, the realization of the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, the respect of which was an obligation erga omnes<\/em>, and refrain from any action which deprived the Palestinian people of that right and, while respecting the Charter and international law, to ensure that any impediment resulting from the illegal presence of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory to the exercise by the Palestinian people of its right to self-determination was brought to an end (para. 4 (a)). The Assembly urged all States, the United Nations and its specialized agencies and organizations, as well as regional organizations, to support and assist the Palestinian people in the early realization of its right to self-determination and to actively pursue steps to ensure full implementation of the advisory opinion and of all relevant United Nations resolutions (para. 16).[2]<\/a><\/li>\n
          4. In its resolution 79\/91<\/a>, the General Assembly called upon all States and international organizations to continue to actively pursue policies that ensured respect for their obligations under international law, including those outlined in the advisory opinion rendered by the International Court of Justice on 19 July 2024, regarding the unlawful presence of Israel and all illegal Israeli practices and measures in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, particularly in relation to Israeli settlements and their associated regime, including, inter alia, the obligations of distinction and of non-recognition and non-assistance to the unlawful presence of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and to its unlawful acts, as well as the obligation, while respecting the Charter and international law, to ensure that any impediment resulting from the illegal presence of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory to the exercise by the Palestinian people of its right to self-determination was brought to an end (para. 15).[3]<\/a><\/li>\n
          5. In its resolution 79\/232<\/a>, the General Assembly reiterated its call to all States and United Nations specialized agencies and organizations to continue to support and assist the Palestinian people in the early realization of its right to self-determination and called upon Israel to uphold and comply with its obligations not to impede the Palestinian people from exercising its right to self-determination, including by rescinding any measures that obstruct the provision of basic services and humanitarian and development assistance to the Palestinian people (paras. 6 and 7). In paragraph 10 of the resolution, it decided, in accordance with Article 96 of the Charter, to request International Court of Justice, pursuant to article 65 of the Statute of the Court, on a priority basis and with the utmost urgency, to render an advisory opinion on the following question, considering the rules and principles of international law, as regards in particular the Charter, international humanitarian law, international human rights law, privileges and immunities applicable under international law for international organizations and States, relevant resolutions of the Security Council, the General Assembly and the Human Rights Council, the advisory opinion of the Court of 9 July 2004 and the advisory opinion of the Court of 19 July 2024:<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

            What are the obligations of Israel, as an occupying Power and as a member of the United Nations, in relation to the presence and activities of the United Nations, including its agencies and bodies, other international organizations and third States, in and in relation to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including to ensure and facilitate the unhindered provision of urgently needed supplies essential to the survival of the Palestinian civilian population, as well as of basic services and humanitarian and development assistance, for the benefit of the Palestinian civilian population, and in support of the Palestinian people\u2019s right to self-determination?<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

            D. Other General Assembly resolutions referring to the right of peoples to self-determination<\/strong><\/p>\n

              \n
            1. In its resolution 79\/1<\/a>, the General Assembly adopted the Pact for the Future, in which Member States committed to, inter alia, upholding the principles of political independence and self-determination (para. 12). They also reiterated their full respect for the principle of self-determination of peoples (para. 32).<\/li>\n
            2. In its resolution 79\/9<\/a>, the General Assembly requested the United Nations and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to continue to cooperate in their common search for solutions to global problems, such as questions related to self-determination (para. 5). Similarly, in its resolution 79\/76<\/a>, the Assembly invited Mediterranean countries to consolidate their efforts in order to contribute to the elimination of all causes of tension in the region and to the promotion of just and lasting solutions to the persistent problems of the region through peaceful means, thus ensuring the withdrawal of foreign forces of occupation and respecting the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of all countries of the Mediterranean and the right of peoples to self-determination (para. 2).<\/li>\n
            3. In its resolution 79\/115<\/a>, on the implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, its resolution 79\/168<\/a>, on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order and its resolution 79\/167<\/a>, on human rights and unilateral coercive measures, the General Assembly reaffirmed that all peoples had the right to self-determination, by virtue of which they freely determined their political status and pursued their economic, social and cultural development (paras. 1, 6 (a) and 16, respectively). In its resolution 79\/115<\/a>, it reiterated the determination of the United Nations and the international community to fulfil their promise of, inter alia, self-determination of peoples, as contained in the Charter, and reaffirmed its support for the aspirations of the peoples under colonial rule to exercise their right to self-determination, including independence (paras. 3 and\u00a04).<\/li>\n
            4. In the preamble of its resolution 79\/146<\/a>, the General Assembly stressed the importance of removing obstacles to the realization of the right of peoples to self-determination, in particular of peoples living under colonial or other forms of alien domination or foreign occupation, which adversely affected their social and economic development, including their exclusion from labour markets.<\/li>\n
            5. In the preamble of its resolution 79\/159<\/a>, the General Assembly stressed that Indigenous Peoples had the right to self-determination, and could choose to live in accordance with their traditions.<\/li>\n
            6. In its resolution 79\/169<\/a>, the General Assembly affirmed that all States should promote the establishment, maintenance and strengthening of international peace and security and an international system based on respect for the principles enshrined in the Charter and the promotion of all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, including the right of peoples to self-determination (para. 7).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

              IV. Economic and Social Council<\/strong><\/h3>\n
                \n
              1. In its resolution 2024\/21<\/a>, the Economic and Social Council recommended that all States intensify their efforts within the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system of which they were members to ensure the full and effective implementation of the Declaration contained in General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV)<\/a>, and other relevant resolutions of the United Nations, and reaffirmed that the recognition by the General Assembly, the Security Council and other United Nations organs of the legitimacy of the aspirations of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories to exercise their right to self-determination entailed, as a corollary, the extension of all appropriate assistance to those peoples, on a case-by-case basis (paras. 3 and 5).[4]<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                V. Human Rights Council<\/strong><\/h3>\n

                A. Resolutions<\/strong><\/p>\n

                  \n
                1. The Human Rights Council, in the preamble to its resolution 56\/8<\/a>, emphasized that the adverse effects of climate change had a range of implications for the effective enjoyment of, inter alia, the right to self-determination.[5]<\/a><\/li>\n
                2. The Human Rights Council, in its resolution 57\/8<\/a>, continued to urge all States to take the necessary steps and to exercise the utmost vigilance against the threat posed by the activities of mercenaries, and to take legislative measures to ensure that their territories and other territories under their control, and their nationals, were not used for the recruitment, assembly, financing, arming, training, protection and transit of mercenaries for the planning of activities designed to impede the right to self-determination, to overthrow the Government of any State or to dismember or to impair, totally or in part, the territorial integrity or political unity of sovereign and independent States conducting themselves in compliance with the right of peoples to self-determination (para. 3). The Council also condemned mercenary activities in any country, particularly in areas of conflict, and the threat they posed to, among other things, the exercise of the right to self-determination of their peoples (para. 10).<\/li>\n
                3. The Human Rights Council, in its resolution 57\/7<\/a>, on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order, and resolution 58\/3<\/a>, on the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures on the enjoyment of human rights, reaffirmed the right of all peoples to self-determination, through which they could freely determine their political status and pursue their economic, social and cultural development (paras. 5 (a) and 11, respectively). In the preamble to its resolution 58\/8<\/a>, the Council reaffirmed the necessity of due respect for, inter alia, the right to self-determination.<\/li>\n
                4. In the preamble to its resolution 58\/2<\/a>, the Human Rights Council stressed that early recovery and reconstruction plans must aim to achieve the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people and ensure their right to return and right to self-determination, including through their participation in the design and implementation of such plans as a concrete expression of these rights. In its resolution 58\/27<\/a>, the Council reaffirmed the inalienable, permanent and unqualified right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, including their right to live in freedom, justice and dignity and the right to their independent State of Palestine (para. 1). It also expressed grave concern at the fragmentation and the changes in the demographic composition of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, resulting from the continuing construction and expansion of settlements, forcible transfer of Palestinians and construction of the wall by Israel, and stressed that this fragmentation undermined the realization of their right to self-determination (para. 5). The Council confirmed that the right of the Palestinian people to permanent sovereignty over their natural wealth and resources must be used in the interest of their national development, the well-being of the Palestinian people and as part of the realization of their right to self-determination (para. 6). It called upon all States to ensure respect for their obligations of non-recognition, non-aid or non-assistance with regard to the serious breaches of peremptory norms of international law by Israel, particularly of the prohibition of the acquisition of territory by force, in order to ensure the exercise of the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination (para. 7). It urged all States to adopt measures as required to promote the realization of the right to self-determination of the Palestinian people and to render assistance to the United Nations in carrying out the responsibilities entrusted to it by the Charter regarding the implementation of this right (para. 8). Furthermore, in resolution 58\/28<\/a>, the Council called upon Israel, the occupying Power, to put an end to all of the human rights violations linked to the presence of settlements, especially of, inter alia, <\/em>the right to self-determination (para.\u00a07 (b)). It also urged all States to ensure that any impediment resulting from the illegal presence of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory to the exercise by the Palestinian people of its right to self-determination be brought to an end (para. 9).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                  B. Special procedures and subsidiary bodies of the Human Rights Council[6]<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

                    \n
                  1. In his report to the General Assembly, the Special Rapporteur on the right to development noted that climate change-induced natural disasters and sea level rise would affect the right to self-determination of peoples living in low-lying island States as well as Indigenous Peoples generally, by threatening the territorial integrity and loss of traditional territories, cultural practices and sources of livelihoods (A\/79\/168<\/a>, para. 40).<\/li>\n
                  2. In her report to the General Assembly, the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression examined the impact of the conflict in Gaza on freedom of expression globally (A\/79\/319<\/a>). She noted that restricting the use of the Palestinian flag was a denial of the right to self-determination of the Palestinian people. Similarly, she noted that blanket bans of Palestinian symbols, by linking Palestinians as a people to terrorism or antisemitism, demonized and stigmatized them and sought to delegitimize their liberation struggle. She also observed that a general ban or criminalization for the mere utterance of a slogan in all circumstances was disproportionate and not in line with international human rights law. She noted that scholars, human rights experts and Palestinian advocates, including many Jewish groups and scholars, saw the slogan as a call for the right to self-determination of Palestinians (paras. 71\u201374). The Special Rapporteur recommended that States must not restrict expression in support of Palestinian self-determination, noting that advocacy of Palestinians\u2019 human rights, including the right to self-determination, was legitimate expression (para. 95).<\/li>\n
                  3. In her report to the General Assembly, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967 discussed the right to self-determination of the Palestinian people (A\/79\/384<\/a>). She noted that land was intrinsic to a people\u2019s right to self-determination (para. 46) and that the legally recognized right to self-determination of Palestinians being tied to that land, together with their large presence, had represented both legal and demographic impediments to the realization of \u201cGreater Israel\u201d (para. 55). She emphasized that the cultivation of a political doctrine that framed Palestinian assertions of self-determination as a security threat to Israel had served to legitimize permanent occupation (para. 57). The Special Rapporteur further asserted that, in the context of Israel ignoring the International Court of Justice directive to end the unlawful occupation, the aim to eradicate resistance contradicted the rights to self-determination and to resist an oppressive regime, protected by customary international law (para. 70).<\/li>\n
                  4. In his report to the General Assembly, the Special Rapporteur on the rights of Indigenous Peoples considered the situation of mobile Indigenous Peoples, including the challenges they face to their legal recognition, land rights and mobility (A\/79\/160<\/a>). He concluded that when States failed to recognize the collective identity, territorial rights and governance structures of mobile Indigenous Peoples, their lands were vulnerable to expropriation and exploitation, thereby violating their rights to self-determination, self-government and autonomy, among other things (para. 93). In his report to the Human Rights Council, the Special Rapporteur considered the situation of Indigenous persons with disabilities (A\/HRC\/57\/47<\/a>). He recalled that they enjoyed not only individual rights but also collective rights as Indigenous Peoples, as established in international human rights instruments. These rights included the rights to self-determination, land, territories and resources, consultation and free, prior and informed consent (paras. 8, 88 and 89). Addressing their needs required a nuanced understanding of the intersectionality of their identities and a commitment to upholding their rights as both Indigenous Peoples and persons with disabilities, including their rights to self-determination, lands, territories and resources, consultation and free, prior and informed consent before adopting any legislation, policy or projects that might affect them (para. 25). Ensuring the right to self-determination and the right to free, prior and informed consent was key for the full and effective participation of Indigenous persons with disabilities in decision-making (paras. 52 and 53).<\/li>\n
                  5. In his report to the General Assembly, the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism examined the protection of human rights by regional organizations while countering terrorism, in relation to regional norms, regional cooperation, victims of terrorism, and regional oversight, accountability and remedies (A\/79\/324<\/a>). He noted that five regional instruments operatively excluded self-determination struggles, in accordance with international law. The exclusions did not immunize self-determination violence, which remained subject to other international rules, but they exempted it from legal suppression as \u201cterrorism\u201d. He recalled that, under international law, armed struggle was permissible to resist the forcible suppression of self-determination, subject to international humanitarian law and human rights law. The Special Rapporteur emphasized that that legitimate right should be accommodated in counter-terrorism instruments (para. 15).<\/li>\n
                  6. In her report to the Human Rights Council, the Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights focused on the digitalization of cultural heritage and its impact on cultural rights, advocating for a cultural rights approach to digitalization (A\/HRC\/58\/60<\/a>). She recalled that the right of access to and enjoyment of cultural heritage was part of the right to take part in cultural life, the right of members of minorities to enjoy their own culture, and the right of Indigenous Peoples to self-determination and to maintain, control, protect and develop cultural heritage (para.\u00a024).<\/li>\n
                  7. In his report to the Human Rights Council, the Special Rapporteur on the right to food explained that food sovereignty was an expression of the right to self-determination and applied to local food producers and consumers equally (A\/HRC\/58\/48<\/a>, para. 20).<\/li>\n
                  8. In its thematic study submitted to the Human Rights Council, the Expert Mechanism on the Right to Development elaborated on the nature, scope and content of the right to development as both an individual right of all human beings and a collective right of all peoples, exploring the relationship between the two (A\/HRC\/57\/40<\/a>). The Expert Mechanism recalled that, under the Declaration on the Right to Development, the right was not only a collective right, but also a personal one. It was recognized in the Declaration that \u201cthe human right to development also implies the full realization of the right of peoples to self-determination, which included \u2026 the exercise of their inalienable right to full sovereignty over all their natural wealth and resources\u201d (art. 1 (2)). The Expert Mechanism emphasized that that recognition served to highlight the intricate interdependent nature of the right to development and the right to self-determination (para. 1). It went on to emphasize that collective human rights, as exemplified by self-determination, were integral to the protection of individual rights (para. 35). Self-determination was a cornerstone of collective rights for Indigenous Peoples (para. 38). Articles 3 and 4 of the Declaration affirmed the right of Indigenous Peoples to self-determination and autonomy in matters relating to their internal affairs. The collective rights principle of self-determination inherent in the right to development was referenced in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, in which it was noted that Indigenous Peoples had \u201csuffered from historic injustices as a result of, inter alia, their colonization and dispossession of their lands, territories and resources, thus preventing them from exercising, in particular, their right to development in accordance with their own needs and interests\u201d (para. 37). The right to development hinged on the right to self-determination, which was more pertinent to collectives than to individual entities. For development to be meaningful and comprehensive, communities must be able to exercise their right to self-determine their development paths, in particular when basic human rights were lacking (para. 39). The right to self-determination included the right of peoples to freely pursue their development (para.\u00a043).<\/li>\n
                  9. In its third report to the General Assembly, the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel examined, inter alia, attacks on medical facilities and personnel from 7 October 2023 to August 2024. The Commission found, inter alia, that the actions of Israel violated the Palestinian people\u2019s right to self-determination (A\/79\/232<\/a>, para. 88).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                    VI. Human rights treaty bodies<\/strong><\/p>\n

                      \n
                    1. In its views concerning communications No. 251\/2022 and No. 289\/2022, the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights found violation of article 15 (1) (a) of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, read alone and in conjunction with articles 1, 2 (2) and 11 of the Covenant (E\/C.12\/76\/D\/251\/2022-E\/C.12\/76\/D\/289\/2022<\/a>). The Committee noted that the practice of reindeer herding on the traditional territory of the affected Sami community was an essential part of Sami culture and livelihood and that land was closely linked with the right to self-determination, as enshrined in article 1 of the Covenant (paras. 14.1 and 14.4). The Committee reiterated that the realization of self-determination was an essential condition for the effective guarantee and observance of the rights of Indigenous Peoples and was considered to be the fundamental premise of the right to consultation and consent (para. 14.4). The Committee was therefore of the view that, in the context of Indigenous Peoples, article 15 (1) (a), read in conjunction with articles 1 and 11, of the Covenant entailed the right of Indigenous Peoples to the lands, territories and resources that they had traditionally owned, occupied or otherwise used or acquired and required States Parties to take measures to recognize and protect the rights of Indigenous Peoples to own, develop, control and use their communal lands, territories and resources. It followed that States Parties must ensure the effective participation of Indigenous Peoples in decision-making processes that might affect their way of life, in particular their right to land, based on the principle of their free, prior and informed consent, so as not to endanger the very survival of the community and its members, as enshrined in article 32 (2) of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and reaffirmed in the Committee\u2019s general comments (para. 14.5). The Committee found that the procedure provided in that case did not meet the standard of effective participation in accordance with the principle of free, prior and informed consent and that the State Party had not demonstrated that adequate account had been taken of the right of Indigenous Peoples to land, as part of the right to take part in cultural life, read alone and in conjunction with the rights to self-determination and to an adequate standard of living, and the obligation to ensure their effective participation, as established in international human rights law (paras. 14.6 and 14.8).<\/li>\n
                    2. In its concluding observations on the sixth periodic report of France, the Human Rights Committee expressed concern about the lack of progress made in dealing with the issue of the self-determination of the people of French Polynesia. It recommended that the State Party facilitate and accelerate the realization of the right of peoples, particularly the Indigenous Peoples of New Caledonia and French Polynesia, to self-determination by cooperating fully with the special committee responsible for examining the situation of those two Non-Self-Governing Territories and consulting the Indigenous Peoples of New Caledonia and French Polynesia before adopting any measures relating to the self-determination process in order to obtain their free, prior and informed consent (CCPR\/C\/FRA\/CO\/6<\/a>, paras. 4 and 5).<\/li>\n
                    3. In its concluding observations on the seventh periodic report of Nepal, the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women expressed concern about the lack of recognition of the rights of Indigenous women in the Constitution, including their collective right to self-determination. The Committee recommended that the State Party amend the Constitution to explicitly recognize the rights of Indigenous women, including their right to self-determination, in line with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (CEDAW\/C\/NPL\/CO\/7<\/a>, paras. 46 and 47).<\/li>\n
                    4. In its concluding observations on the combined second and third periodic reports of Canada, the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities expressed concern about the lack of close consultation with and active involvement of persons with disabilities, through their representative organizations, including Black and other racialized persons with disabilities, First Nations, Inuit and M\u00e9tis persons with disabilities, and non-status and off-reserve Indigenous persons with disabilities. It recommended that the State Party require that statutes and regulations in all jurisdictions be interpreted in a manner consistent with the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and ensure, in particular, that the principles and standards of the Convention underpin the implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act and the associated action plan and that self-determination, sovereignty and culture, including for non-status and off-reserve Indigenous persons with disabilities, be respected (CRPD\/C\/CAN\/CO\/2-3<\/a>, paras. 7 and 8).<\/li>\n
                    5. In its concluding observations on the combined twenty-second to twenty-fourth periodic reports of Mexico, the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination expressed concern that, although the constitutional amendment to ensure the recognition of Indigenous Peoples and people of African descent as subjects of public law and fully guarantee their rights was the subject of a prior consultation process, the final document did not adequately reflect the proposals made by Indigenous Peoples, in particular with regard to the right to self-determination and collective rights over their land, territories and natural resources. The Committee urged the State Party to ensure that the proposals made by Indigenous Peoples were adequately reflected in the provisions of the constitutional amendment, in compliance with international standards. The Committee also referred the State Party to its general recommendations No. 21 (1996) on the right to self-determination and No. 23 (1997) on the rights of Indigenous Peoples (CERD\/C\/MEX\/CO\/22-24<\/a>, paras. 14 and 15).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                      VII. Conclusions<\/strong><\/h3>\n
                        \n
                      1. I recall that, reflecting its fundamental importance, the right to self-determination is enshrined in the Charter of the Organization. Article 1 (2) of the Charter provides that one of the very purposes of the Organization is \u201cto develop friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples, and to take other appropriate measures to strengthen universal peace\u201d. It is equally a core component of human rights treaties, set out in common article 1 (1) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, which states that all peoples have the right to self-determination and that by virtue of that right they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development.<\/li>\n
                      2. During the reporting period, the principal organs of the United Nations, including the Security Council, the General Assembly, the International Court of Justice and the Economic and Social Council, considered issues of self-determination and, as applicable, adopted resolutions that referred to it. The Human Rights Council, a subsidiary organ of the Assembly, also continued to discuss and adopt resolutions that referred to that right. Several special procedure mandate holders of the Human Rights Council, as well as the Expert Mechanism on the Right to Development and the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in Israel, discussed the implementation of the right of peoples to self-determination in relation to the human rights challenges regarding Indigenous Peoples, the Palestinian people, the right to food, cultural rights, counter-terrorism, rights to freedom of expression and opinion and sustainable development.<\/li>\n
                      3. The continued attention to the right of peoples to self-determination by the principal and subsidiary organs of the United Nations and by several international human rights mechanisms during the reporting period evinces the ever-present importance of the right of peoples to self-determination, which remains central to the enjoyment of other human rights, peace and sustainable development. I call on all States to enable the enjoyment of this right, in all contexts, and thereby to further the basic purposes of the United Nations.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
                        \n

                        * A\/80\/150<\/a>.<\/p>\n

                        <\/a>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 [1] See also A\/AC.109\/2025\/18<\/a>.<\/p>\n

                        <\/a>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 [2] See also A\/79\/588<\/a>.<\/p>\n

                        <\/a>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 [3] See also A\/79\/347<\/a>, para. 30.<\/p>\n

                        <\/a>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 [4] At its twenty-fourth session, the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues considered three studies prepared by members, each touching upon Indigenous Peoples\u2019 right to self-determination (E\/C.19\/2025\/5<\/a>, E\/C.19\/2025\/6<\/a> and E\/C.19\/2025\/7<\/a>).<\/p>\n

                        <\/a>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 [5] See also A\/HRC\/57\/30<\/a>.<\/p>\n

                        <\/a>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 [6] Special procedure mandate holders are independent human rights experts appointed by the Human Rights Council. They serve in their personal capacity. Any views they express remain the personal views of the mandate holder and do not necessarily represent positions held by the Secretariat of the United Nations or by other organizations of the United Nations system.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                          13 August 2025 Eightieth session Item 71 of the provisional agenda* Right of peoples to self-determination   Right of peoples to self-determination Report of the Secretary-General Summary: The present report is submitted pursuant to General Assembly resolution 79\/164, in which the Assembly requested the Secretary-General to submit to it at its eightieth session a […]<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":299,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"country":[],"document-category":[1323,4587],"document-source":[5352],"committee-meeting":[],"document-subject":[1741,1805,6881,1749,1821],"entity":[1729],"document-language":[6544,6543,6542,6541,6539,6538],"class_list":["post-315701","document","type-document","status-publish","hentry","document-category-report","document-category-secretary-general-report","document-source-secretary-general","document-subject-human-rights-and-international-humanitarian-law","document-subject-occupation","document-subject-occupied-palestinian-territory","document-subject-palestine-question","document-subject-self-determination","entity-united-nations-system","document-language-arabic","document-language-chinese","document-language-english","document-language-french","document-language-russian","document-language-spanish"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document\/315701","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/document"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/299"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document\/315701\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":315706,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document\/315701\/revisions\/315706"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=315701"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"country","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/country?post=315701"},{"taxonomy":"document-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-category?post=315701"},{"taxonomy":"document-source","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-source?post=315701"},{"taxonomy":"committee-meeting","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/committee-meeting?post=315701"},{"taxonomy":"document-subject","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-subject?post=315701"},{"taxonomy":"entity","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/entity?post=315701"},{"taxonomy":"document-language","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-language?post=315701"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}