Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples
Adopted by General Assembly resolution 1514 (X! of 14 December 1"#$
The General Assembly,
Mindful of the determination proclaimed by the peoples of the world in the Charter of the
United Nations to reafrm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the
human person, in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small and to
promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom,
Conscious of the need for the creation of conditions of stability and wellbeing and peaceful
and friendly relations based on respect for the principles of equal rights and self
determination of all peoples, and of uni!ersal respect for, and obser!ance of, human rights
and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, se", language or religion,
#ecogni$ing the passionate yearning for freedom in all dependent peoples and the decisi!e
role of such peoples in the attainment of their independence,
A ware of the increasing con%icts resulting from the denial of or impediments in the way of
the freedom of such peoples, which constitute a serious threat to world peace,
Considering the important role of the United Nations in assisting the mo!ement for
independence in Trust and Non&elfGo!erning Territories,
#ecogni$ing that the peoples of the world ardently desire the end of colonialism in all its
manifestations,
Con!inced that the continued e"istence of colonialism pre!ents the de!elopment of
international economic cooperation, impedes the social, cultural and economic
de!elopment of dependent peoples and militates against the United Nations ideal of
uni!ersal peace,
Afrming that peoples may, for their own ends, freely dispose of their natural wealth and
resources without pre'udice to any obligations arising out of international economic co
operation, based upon the principle of mutual bene(t, and international law,
)elie!ing that the process of liberation is irresistible and irre!ersible and that, in order to
a!oid serious crises, an end must be put to colonialism and all practices of segregation and
discrimination associated therewith,
*elcoming the emergence in recent years of a large number of dependent territories into
freedom and independence, and recogni$ing the increasingly powerful trends towards
freedom in such territories which ha!e not yet attained independence,
Con!inced that all peoples ha!e an inalienable right to complete freedom, the e"ercise of
their so!ereignty and the integrity of their national territory,
&olemnly proclaims the necessity of bringing to a speedy and unconditional end colonialism
in all its forms and manifestations+
And to this end ,eclares that-
./ The sub'ection of peoples to alien sub'ugation, domination and e"ploitation constitutes a
denial of fundamental human rights, is contrary to the Charter of the United Nations and is
an impediment to the promotion of world peace and cooperation/
0/ All peoples ha!e the right to selfdetermination+ by !irtue of that right they freely
determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural
de!elopment/
1/ 2nadequacy of political, economic, social or educational preparedness should ne!er ser!e
as a prete"t for delaying independence/
3/ All armed action or repressi!e measures of all 4inds directed against dependent peoples
shall cease in order to enable them to e"ercise peacefully and freely their right to complete
independence, and the integrity of their national territory shall be respected/
5/ 2mmediate steps shall be ta4en, in Trust and Non&elfGo!erning Territories or all other
territories which ha!e not yet attained independence, to transfer all powers to the peoples of
those territories, without any conditions or reser!ations, in accordance with their freely
e"pressed will and desire, without any distinction as to race, creed or colour, in order to
enable them to en'oy complete independence and freedom/
6/ Any attempt aimed at the partial or total disruption of the national unity and the territorial
integrity of a country is incompatible with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the
United Nations/
7/ All &tates shall obser!e faithfully and strictly the pro!isions of the Charter of the United
Nations, the Uni!ersal ,eclaration of 8uman #ights and the present ,eclaration on the basis
of equality, noninterference in the internal a9airs of all &tates, and respect for the so!ereign
rights of all peoples and their territorial integrity/
