United Nations General Assembly adopts Pakistan-backed resolution reaffirming right to self-determination
Islamabad, Hilal Ahmad, December 19, AZERTAC
The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has adopted a Pakistan-sponsored resolution that reaffirms the right to self-determination for peoples still subjected to colonial, foreign, and alien occupation. According to Pakistan’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations, the resolution titled “Universal Realization of the Right of the Peoples to Self-Determination” was adopted by the UNGA by consensus during the UNGA’s 80th session.
According to Pakistan's Foreign Ministry, the United Nations General Assembly has adopted the Pakistan-sponsored flagship resolution on the “Universal Realization of the Right of the Peoples to Self-Determination.” Adopted by consensus, the resolution was supported and co-sponsored by a large number of countries from different regions around the world. The resolution reaffirms the inalienable right of all peoples to self-determination, including those living under foreign occupation, colonial domination, and alien subjugation. It stresses that the full realization of this right is essential for the protection and advancement of human rights worldwide.
For over four decades, Pakistan has tabled this annual resolution to draw attention to the ongoing struggles of peoples denied their right to self-determination, particularly those living under oppressive occupations. The resolution highlights the plight of the people in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir and Palestine, reinforcing international support for their legitimate aspirations for self-determination. The unanimous adoption of this resolution reflects the collective will of UN Member States and strengthens the principle of self-determination, as enshrined in international law, including the UN Charter and the International Covenants on Civil and Political Rights, and Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. It also reaffirms the global commitment to justice, peace, and equality.
By reaffirming these principles, the resolution sends a strong message of solidarity to peoples across the world who continue to struggle for freedom and independence from foreign occupation and domination. This resolution not only calls for an end to foreign intervention and aggression but also stresses the importance of respecting the rights of peoples under occupation.
Addressing the UNGA on the occasion of the International Day against Colonialism in All Its Forms and Manifestations, Pakistan’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Usman Jadoon, emphasized that self-determination was not merely a historical aspiration but an enduring obligation of the international community. Pakistan also apprised the United Nations General Assembly that persistent failure to uphold the right to self-determination continued to undermine international peace efforts, particularly in the Middle East and South Asia.
He maintained that, keeping in view the recent developments in the Middle East, lasting peace cannot be achieved through the continued denial and suppression of the legitimate right to self-determination of the Palestinian people. Moreover, he reminded the UNGA that Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) was not a bilateral dispute between Pakistan and India but an internationally recognized lingering dispute. He made it clear that the UNSC, by its many resolutions, has recognized the legitimate right of self-determination of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. The Deputy Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations stated that a just resolution of the Kashmir dispute remains central to the establishment of durable peace in the South Asia region.
Pakistan’s steadfast leadership on this issue ensures that the right to self-determination remains a central pillar of global discourse, offering hope to millions of people around the world who continue to fight for freedom and independence.
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