Decolonization

History has resulted in many colonies. Since 1945 more than 80 of these have become independent. Most of these had been colonies decades as part of European imperialism. Some of these were United Nations Trust Territories and other non-self-governing territories. UN Trust Territories were to provide for a path to independence for those territories that were put into a similar position by the League of Nations (League of Nations Mandates), territories from ‘enemy states’ after World War II, and territories voluntarily placed in this status by their administrating country. All eleven territories under the UN Trust have become independent or associated themselves with a country. The UN Trusteeship system has completed its mission. Seventeen territories remain non-self-governing, thus the process of decolonization is not complete. Since its inception The United Nations has been working towards decolonization. The UN Charter addresses this issue in Chapter 1, Article 1, paragraph 2: “To develop friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples…” In addition the UN Charter specifically addresses non-self-governing territories and Trusteeships in Chapter XI: Declaration regarding Non-Self-Governing Territories, Chapter XII: International Trusteeship System and Chapter XIII: The Trusteeship Council. http://www.un.org/en/decolonization/index.shtml