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Self Determination:
principle & the law
Universal realization of the right of peoples to
self-determination
UN General Assembly Resolution 48/93
20 December 1993
The General Assembly,
Reaffirming the importance, for the effective guarantee and
observance of human rights, of the universal realization of the right of
peoples to self-determination enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations
and embodied in the International Covenants on Human Rights, 1/ as
well as in the
Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and
Peoples contained in General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December
1960,
Welcoming the progressive exercise of the right to
self-determination by peoples under colonial, foreign or alien occupation
and their emergence into sovereign statehood and independence,
Deeply concerned at the continuation of acts or threats of foreign
military intervention and occupation that are threatening to suppress, or
have already suppressed, the right to self-determination of an increasing
number of sovereign peoples and nations,
Expressing grave concern that, as a consequence of the persistence
of such actions, millions of people have been and are being uprooted from
their homes as refugees and displaced persons, and emphasizing the urgent
need for concerted international action to alleviate their condition,
Recalling the relevant resolutions regarding the violation of the
right of peoples to self-determination and other human rights as a result of
foreign military intervention, aggression and occupation, adopted by the
Commission on Human Rights at its thirty-sixth, 2/ thirty-seventh,
3/ thirty-eighth, 4/ thirty-ninth, 5/ fortieth, 6/
forty-first, 7/ forty-second, 8/ forty-third, 9/
forty-fourth, 10/ forty-fifth, 11/ forty-sixth, 12/
forty-seventh, 13/ forty-eighth 14/ and forty-ninth 15/
sessions,
Reaffirming its resolutions 35/35 B of 14 November 1980, 36/10 of 28
October 1981, 37/42 of 3 December 1982, 38/16 of 22 November 1983, 39/18 of
23 November 1984, 40/24 of 29 November 1985, 41/100 of 4 December 1986,
42/94 of 7 December 1987,
43/105 of 8 December 1988, 44/80 of 8 December 1989, 45/131 of 14
December 1990, 46/88 of 16 December 1991 and 47/83 of 16 December 1992,
Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on the right of
peoples to self-determination, 16/
1. Reaffirms that the universal realization of the right of all
peoples, including those under colonial, foreign and alien domination, to
self-determination is a fundamental condition for the effective guarantee
and observance of human rights and for the preservation and promotion of
such rights;
2. Declares its firm opposition to acts of foreign military
intervention, aggression and occupation, since these have resulted in the
suppression of the right of peoples to self-determination and other human
rights in certain parts of the world;
3. Calls upon those States responsible to cease immediately their
military intervention in and occupation of foreign countries and territories
and all acts of repression, discrimination, exploitation and maltreatment,
particularly the brutal and inhuman methods reportedly employed for the
execution of those acts against the peoples concerned;
4. Deplores the plight of the millions of refugees and displaced
persons who have been uprooted as a result of the aforementioned acts, and
reaffirms their right to return to their homes voluntarily in safety and
honour;
5. Requests the Commission on Human Rights to continue to give
special attention to the violation of human rights, especially the right to
self-determination, resulting from foreign military intervention, aggression
or occupation;
6. Requests the Secretary-General to report on this question to
the General Assembly at its forty-ninth session under the item entitled
"Right of peoples to self-determination".
1/ Resolution
2200 A (XXI), annex.
2/ See
Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1980,
Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/1980/13 and Corr.1),
chap. XXVI, sect. A.
3/ Ibid.,
1981, Supplement No. 5 and corrigendum (E/1981/25 and
Corr.1), chap. XXVIII, sect. A.
4/ Ibid.,
1982, Supplement No. 2 and corrigendum (E/1982/12 and
Corr.1), chap. XXVI, sect. A.
5/ Ibid.,
1983, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/1983/13 and
Corr.1), chap. XXVII, sect. A.
6/ Ibid.,
1984, Supplement No. 4 and corrigendum (E/1984/14 and
Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A.
7/ Ibid.,
1985, Supplement No. 2 (E/1985/22), chap. II, sect. A.
8/ Ibid.,
1986, Supplement No. 2 (E/1986/22), chap. II, sect. A.
9/ Ibid.,
1987, Supplement No. 5 and corrigenda (E/1987/18 and Corr.1
and 2), chap. II, sect. A.
10/ Ibid.,
1988, Supplement No. 2 and corrigendum (E/1988/12 and
Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A.
11/ Ibid.,
1989, Supplement No. 2 (E/1989/20), chap. II, sect. A.
12/ Ibid.,
1990, Supplement No. 2 and corrigendum (E/1990/22 and
Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A.
13/ Ibid.,
1991, Supplement No. 2 (E/1991/22), chap. II, sect. A.
14/ Ibid.,
1992, Supplement No. 2 (E/1992/22), chap. II, sect. A.
15/ Ibid.,
1993, Supplement No. 3 (E/1993/23), chap. II, sect. A.
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