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56
United Nations
Results of the International Decade for the
Eradication of Colonialism
As the 1990s drew to a close, it became clear the United Nation’s goal of
ending colonialism by the end of the millennium would not be achieved.
Five territories had achieved self-determination, but this still left seventeen
on the Non-Self-Governing Territories list. The Special Committee felt they
had made a great deal of progress in helping the territories and their
administrating nations take the necessary steps toward self-government,
but obviously much more work still needed to be done.
One of the difficulties the Special Committee had encountered
was getting the full cooperation of the administering nations. Some
administrating nations insisted certain territories were happy remaining
as colonies. This was true to some extent, since the tiny island territories
appear to have greater economic advantages by staying as they are
rather than choosing independence. As territories governed by wealthy
administering nations, they have access to greater resources than they
would if they were to try to survive on their own. This is especially true
in the Caribbean. Many residents of these islands are comfortable with
their lives and see no reason to change. One such example is the U.S.
Virgin Islands, where several
referendums
have been held to determine
the wishes of the people for the future of their territory. All of these
referendums have failed, since very few people turned out to vote.
The national flag
of Timor Leste.