Resolution adopted by the United Nations
Special Committee on Decolonisation
Question of the
British Virgin Islands
The General Assembly,
Having considered the question of the British Virgin Islands,
Having examined the relevant chapter of
the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the
Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial
Countries and Peoples for 2016, related to the British Virgin Islands,[1]
Taking note of the working paper
prepared by the Secretariat on the British Virgin Islands[2] and other relevant information,
Recognizing that all available options
for self-determination of the Territory are valid as long as they are in
accordance with the freely expressed wishes of the people of the British Virgin
Islands and in conformity with the clearly defined principles contained in
General Assembly resolutions 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960, 1541 (XV) of 15
December 1960 and other resolutions of the Assembly,
Expressing concern that 56 years after
the adoption of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial
Countries and Peoples,[3] there
still remain 17 Non-Self-Governing Territories, including the British
Virgin Islands,
Conscious of the importance of
continuing the effective implementation of the Declaration, taking into account
the target set by the United Nations to eradicate colonialism by 2020 and the
plans of action for the Second[4] and
Third International Decades for the Eradication of Colonialism,
Recognizing that the specific
characteristics and the aspirations of the people of the British Virgin Islands
require flexible, practical and innovative approaches to the options for
self-determination, without any prejudice to territorial size, geographical
location, size of population or natural resources,
Convinced that the wishes and
aspirations of the people of the Territory should continue to guide the
development of their future political status and that referendums, free and
fair elections and other forms of popular consultation play an important role
in ascertaining the wishes and aspirations of the people,
Concerned by the use and exploitation of the natural
resources of the Non‑Self-Governing Territories by the administering Powers for their
benefit, by the use of the Territories as tax havens to the detriment of the
world economy and by the consequences of any economic activities of the
administering Powers that are contrary to the interests of the people of the
Territories, as well as to resolution 1514 (XV),
Convinced that any negotiations to
determine the status of the Territory must take place with the active
involvement and participation of the people of the Territory, under the
auspices of the United Nations, on a case-by-case basis, and that the views of
the people of the British Virgin Islands in respect of their right to
self-determination should be ascertained,
Noting
the continued cooperation of the Non-Self-Governing Territories at the local
and regional levels, including participation in the work of regional
organizations,
Mindful that, in order for the Special
Committee to enhance its understanding of the political status of the people of
the British Virgin Islands and to fulfil its mandate effectively, it is
important for it to be apprised by the administering Power and to receive
information from other appropriate sources, including the representatives of
the Territory, concerning the wishes and aspirations of the people of the
Territory,
Aware of the importance both to the
British Virgin Islands and to the Special Committee of the participation of
elected and appointed representatives of the British Virgin Islands in the work
of the Committee,
Recognizing the need for the Special
Committee to ensure that the appropriate bodies of the United Nations actively
pursue a public awareness campaign aimed at assisting the people of the British
Virgin Islands with their inalienable right to self-determination and in
gaining a better understanding of the options for self-determination, on a
case-by-case basis,
Mindful, in that connection, that the
holding of regional seminars in the Caribbean and Pacific regions and at
Headquarters, with the active participation of representatives of the
Non-Self-Governing Territories, provides a helpful means for the Special Committee
to fulfil its mandate and that the regional nature of the seminars, which
alternate between the Caribbean and the Pacific, is a crucial element in the
context of a United Nations programme for ascertaining the political status of
the Territories,
Welcoming
the Pacific regional seminar, held by the Special Committee in Managua and
hosted by the Government of Nicaragua from 31 May to 2 June 2016, as a
significant and forward-looking event, which enabled the participants to assess
the progress made in the decolonization process and to review the existing
working methods of the Committee and renew its momentum in implementing its
historic task,
Recognizing the importance of the
conclusions and recommendations adopted by the seminar, which are annexed to
the report of the Special Committee[5] and
which outline the findings of the seminar, including, especially, the way
forward for the decolonization process within the context of the proclamation
by the General Assembly of the period 2011-2020 as the Third International
Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism,[6]
Noting with appreciation the
contribution to the development of some Territories by the specialized agencies
and other organizations of the United Nations system, in particular the
Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, the Economic and
Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, the United Nations Development
Programme and the World Food Programme, as well as regional institutions such
as the Caribbean Development Bank, the Caribbean Community, the Organization of
Eastern Caribbean States, the Pacific Islands Forum and the agencies of the
Council of Regional Organizations in the Pacific,
Recalling the statement made by the
representative of the British Virgin Islands at the Caribbean regional seminar
held in Quito from 28 to 30 May 2013 that, while the Territory’s relationship
with the administering Power was stable and not problematic, it could be
enhanced,
Cognizant of the potential usefulness of
regional ties for the development of a small island Territory and of the
Territory’s membership in the Caribbean Overseas Countries and Territories
Council,
Recalling the general elections which
took place in June 2015,
1. Reaffirms
the inalienable right of the people of the British Virgin Islands to
self-determination, in conformity with the Charter of the United Nations and
with General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV), containing the Declaration on the
Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples;
2. Also reaffirms that, in the process of
decolonization of the British Virgin Islands, there is no alternative to the
principle of self-determination, which is also a fundamental human right, as
recognized under the relevant human rights conventions;
3. Further reaffirms that it is ultimately
for the people of the British Virgin Islands to determine freely their future
political status in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Charter, the
Declaration and the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly, and in that
connection calls 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 in conformity
with the legitimate political status options, based on the principles clearly
defined in Assembly resolution 1541 (XV) and other relevant resolutions and
decisions;
4. Recalls
the 2007 Constitution of the British Virgin Islands, and stresses the
importance of continued discussions on constitutional matters, to accord
greater responsibility to the territorial Government for the effective
implementation of the Constitution and increased levels of education relating
to constitutional matters;
5. Requests
the administering Power to assist the Territory by facilitating its work
concerning public outreach efforts, consistent with Article 73 b of the Charter, and in that regard
calls upon the relevant United Nations organizations to provide assistance to
the Territory, if requested;
6. Welcomes
the active participation of the Territory in the work of the Economic
Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean;
7. Stresses
the importance of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the
Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial
Countries and Peoples being apprised of the views and wishes of the people of
the British Virgin Islands and enhancing its understanding of their conditions,
including the nature and scope of the existing political and constitutional
arrangements between the British Virgin Islands and the administering Power;
8. Calls
upon the administering Power to participate in and cooperate fully with the
work of the Special Committee in order to implement the provisions of Article
73 e of the Charter and the
Declaration and in order to advise the Committee on the implementation of the provisions
under Article 73 b of the Charter on
efforts to promote self-government in the British Virgin Islands, and
encourages the administering Power to facilitate visiting and special missions
to the Territory;
9. Reaffirms
the responsibility of the administering Power under the Charter to promote the
economic and social development and to preserve the cultural identity of the
Territory, and requests the administering Power to take steps to enlist and
make effective use of all possible assistance, on both a bilateral and a
multilateral basis, in the strengthening of the economies of the Territory;
10. Takes into account the 2030 Agenda
for Sustainable Development, including the Sustainable Development Goals,[7] stresses the importance of fostering the economic and social
sustainable development of the Territory by promoting sustained, inclusive and
equitable economic growth, creating greater opportunities for all, reducing
inequalities, raising basic standards of living, fostering equitable social
development and inclusion and promoting the integrated and sustainable
management of natural resources and ecosystems that supports, inter alia,
economic, social and human development, while facilitating ecosystem
conservation, regeneration, restoration and resilience in the face of new and
emerging challenges, and strongly urges the administering Power to refrain from
undertaking any kind of illicit, harmful and unproductive activities, including
the use of the Territory as a tax haven, that are not aligned with the interest
of the people of the Territory;
11. Requests the Territory and the
administering Power to take all measures necessary to protect and conserve the
environment of the Territory against any degradation, and once again requests
the specialized agencies concerned to monitor environmental conditions in the
Territory and to provide assistance to the Territory, consistent with their
prevailing rules of procedure;
[1] Official
Records of the General Assembly, Seventy-first Session, Supplement No. 23 (A/71/23), chap. X.
[2] A/AC.109/2016/4.
[4] A/56/61,
annex.
[5] Official
Records of the General Assembly, Seventy-first Session, Supplement No. 23 (A/71/23).
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