Key Highlights
- International Solidarity Week serves as a global platform for spotlighting non-self-governing territories.
- Seventeen territories, including Western Sahara and the Falklands, continue to seek full self‑rule.
- UN’s observance underscores the right to self‑determination enshrined in the UN Charter.
Detailed Insights
Initiated by Resolution A/RES/54/91 in 1999, the week has become a recurring advocate for the rights of peoples who have not yet achieved self‑governance. The list of territories is dynamic; after colonial dissolution many former colonies have gained independence, leaving the current 17.
Each year, the General Assembly mobilises diplomatic, economic and social assistance, promoting dialogue among states, international organisations and civil societies aimed at sustainable development and cultural preservation.
Key Concepts
- Non‑Self‑Governing Territory – A region whose population has not attained complete self‑government as defined by the UN Charter.
- Self‑Determination – The right of peoples to freely choose their political status without external interference.
- Decolonisation – The process by which colonies transition to independent and autonomous governance.
- International Solidarity Week – An annual UN‑backed observance promoting global support for these territories.