UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called for a renewed global push to complete the decolonization process, noting that 17 territories remain under colonial rule more than six decades after the UN’s formal decolonization drive began.
Speaking at the opening of the 2026 session of the Special Committee on Decolonization (C-24), Guterres emphasized that decolonization has been a core UN objective since the organization’s founding. “This Organization was created as a place where nations could meet as equals, not as rulers and ruled,” he said in remarks delivered by his Chef de Cabinet, Courtenay Rattray.
Since 1945, over 80 former colonies—home to approximately 750 million people—have achieved independence. Yet, nearly two million people still reside in the 17 Non-Self-Governing Territories listed by the UN, ranging from Western Sahara to small islands in the Caribbean and Pacific.
Guterres warned that the legacy of colonialism persists through economic exploitation, racism, inequality, and exclusion from decision-making. He highlighted that many remaining territories are small island states facing severe climate threats, including rising sea levels, coastal erosion, and extreme weather that damage infrastructure and economies. “The majority of the Territories are small islands,” he noted, urging the committee to place “resilience and adaptation at the heart of your discussions.”
The Secretary-General outlined three priorities for the remaining process. First, he called for inclusive dialogue among territories, administering powers, member states, and all stakeholders, with each case addressed individually in line with the UN Charter and relevant resolutions. Second, he underscored the vital role of youth, stating that “the vision and leadership of the next generation is vital to building a productive and inclusive future.” Third, he stressed the urgency of climate action, particularly for island territories confronting existential risks.
The C-24, established by the General Assembly in 1961, monitors progress toward self-government for non-self-governing territories, operating under the mandate of the 1960 Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples.
Guterres’ appeal reinforces the UN’s ongoing commitment to ending colonialism, a foundational principle of the organization, while acknowledging the complex, modern challenges—especially climate change—that complicate the path to full self-determination for the remaining territories.
