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United Nations
Africa
Western Sahara*
Atlantic and Caribbean
Anguilla
Bermuda
British Virgin Islands
Cayman Islands
Falkland Islands (Malvinas)
Montserrat
St. Helena
Turks and Caicos Islands
United States Virgin Islands
Europe
Gibraltar
Pacific and Indian Oceans
American Samoa
French Polynesia
Guam
New Caledonia
Pitcairn Islands
Tokelau
*Spain gave up its presence in 1976,
but the process of decolonization by
the people has not been completed.
Options for Non-Self-Governing Territories
The day after the General Assembly issued Resolution 1514, it announced
another resolution—Resolution 1541. The “Declaration on the granting of
independence to colonial countries and peoples”had asserted the rights of
all peoples to self-government and confirmed that the United Nations was
to help bring about this independence for all Non-Self-Governing Territories.
Now, Resolution 1541 gave three options for Non-Self-Governing Territories
to gain independence. Such a territory could become self-governing by:
1. becoming an independent country,
2. choosing to link itself with another independent country, or
3. choosing to become a part of another independent country.
Whatever the people of a Non-Self-Governing Territory chose, the impor-
tant thing was that it was their decision,not one forced on them by violence
or fear.Sometimes the people chose for their territory to become associated
with another country,with the option of becoming an independent country
in the future.
NON-SELF-GOVERNING TERRITORIES, AS OF 2014