Decolonization
- UNAA
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
16th February 2026
When the United Nations was founded in 1945, around 750 million people, nearly one-third of the world’s population, lived in Territories under colonial rule. Today, only 17 Non‑Self‑Governing Territories remain, home to fewer than 2 million people.
The wave of decolonization, which changed the face of the planet, was born with the UN and represents the world body’s first great success.
As a result of decolonization many Territories became independent and joined the UN.
The international trusteeship system was established by the UN Charter. Affirming the principle of self-determination, the Charter describes the responsibility of States for territories under their administration as “a sacred trust” in which the interests of their inhabitants are paramount
Trusteeship Council
The Charter also created the Trusteeship Council as a main organ of the UN. It was to monitor the situation in 11 specific “Trust Territories” which were subject to separate agreements with administering States. These territories had been formally administered under mandates from the League of Nations, or separated from countries defeated in the Second World War, or voluntarily placed under the system by their administering Power. Eleven Territories were placed under this system
All 11 territories that were once under the United Nations Trusteeship have either become independent states or have voluntarily joined neighboring independent countries. The Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (Palau), which was administered by the United States, was the last territory to become independent in 1994. This happened after a plebiscite in 1993, through which Palau chose to have a free association with the United States. The island country became the 185th member state of the United Nations after it gained independence.
The Trusteeship Council, which had no more territories to administer, suspended its operations on November 1, 1994. The Trusteeship Council still exists as an organ of the United Nations and meets when necessary.
Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples
As the process of decolonization continued to advance, the General Assembly, in 1960, adopted its landmark Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. The Declaration affirmed the right of all people to self-determination and proclaimed that colonialism should be brought to a speedy and unconditional end. Two years later, a Special Committee on Decolonization was established to monitor its implementation.
In 1990, the Assembly proclaimed the International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism (1990-2000), which included a specific plan of action. In 2001, it was followed by a Second International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism. The end of the Second Decade coincided with the fiftieth anniversary of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. At the same time, the General Assembly declared the period 2011–2020 the Third International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism. In 2020, the General Assembly adopted resolution 75/123 declaring the period 2021-2030 the Fourth International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism.
Since the creation of the United Nations, 80 former colonies have gained their independence. This includes all 11 Trust Territories, which have achieved self-determination through independence or free association with an independent State. The Special Committee continues to monitor the situation in the remaining 17 territories, working to facilitate achieving their decolonization.
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