United Nations Radio

Sixty-four years ago, 750 million people, almost a third of the world's population lived in territories governed by colonial powers. Today, fewer than two million people live in such territories.

Reducing that number even further is the work of the United Nations Decolonization Committee. The committee met on Tuesday and again on Wednesday at the United Nations Headquarters in New York and heard petitioners from the territories about their struggles on the path toward independence. UN Radio's Marsha Branch Reports:

Marsha Branch: Since the creation of the United Nations in 1945, more than eighty former colonies have gained their independence. However, some 16 territories remain under colonial rule to date.

The UN's Special Committee on Decolonization says that's 16 too many and so the committee's essential task is to accelerate the decolonization process giving these remaining territories the right to self-determination.

It's a time that cannot come quickly enough for the people of Western Sahara who are accusing Morocco of flouting international law and attempting to expand its territory by force.

Janet Lenz, an aid worker in the Saharwee refugee camps shared a sample of pleas children from these camps sent by letter, asking the UN to intercede on their behalf.

(Clip from Janet Lenz)
My name is Salak. I am 12 years old. I want freedom for my country so I call everyone in the world to help us please. In the last 35 years, we lost everything - our home, our childhood, so many beloved ones, our freedom, our right to live in our own home without losing our dignity. The only thing that we still have is hope and patience. Dalib.

Marsha Branch: New Caledonians have been moving forward to gain autonomy from France. Theirs has been more of a success story, thanks to the Noumea Accord which promises to grant political power to New until the territory decides whether to remain with the French Republic or become an independent state in a referendum to be held between 2012 and 2019.

(VO of Philippe Gomes)
Ce nouveau accord.....(fade)
This new agreement is first and foremost an agreement to decolonize. An accord that President Sarkozy of France holds in high esteem and that he promises to respect.

Marsha Branch: And over in the Caribbean, the US Virgin Islands, an American territory, is seeking to have a draft constitution passed. The constitution is not seeking autonomy for the USVI but is a step in the process. Their challenge lies in having that daft presented to the US congress for approval. According to Gerard James, a USVI representative, the draft was snubbed by their governor.

(Clip from Gerard James)
We had asked for a native Virgin Islander to be the one who would have the highest seat in office as governor. That was something that was objectionable to some of the members of the territory as well as the governor and the governor took it upon himself to be judge and jury by not sending it forward so that the president and congress can do whatever they have to do in terms of processing it through.

Marsha Branch: Of the 16 territories still under colonial rule to date, one is in Africa, nine in the Caribbean, one in Europe and five in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. I'm Marsha Branch for UN Radio.

Duration: 2'41"