A/RES/80/103 GA

United Nations A/RES/80/103 General Assembly Distr.: General 8 December 2025 25-20118 (E) *2520118* Eightieth session Agenda item 58 Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 5 December 2025 [on the report of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee) (A/80/537, para. 15)] 80/103. Question of the United States Virgin Islands The General Assembly, Having considered the question of the United States Virgin Islands and examined the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples for 2025,1 Taking note of the working paper prepared by the Secretariat on the United States Virgin Islands2 and other relevant information, Recognizing that all available options for self-determination of the Territory are valid as long as they are in accordance with the freely expressed wishes of the people of the United States Virgin Islands and in conformity with the clearly defined principles contained in General Assembly resolutions 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960, 1541 (XV) of 15 December 1960 and other resolutions of the Assembly, Expressing concern that, more than 60 years after the adoption of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, 3 there still remain 17 Non-Self-Governing Territories, including the United States Virgin Islands, Conscious of the importance of continuing the effective implementation of the Declaration, taking into account the target set by the United Nations to eradicate _______________ 1 Official Records of the General Assembly, Eightieth Session, Supplement No. 23 (A/80/23). 2 A/AC.109/2025/16. 3 Resolution 1514 (XV). A/RES/80/103 Question of the United States Virgin Islands 25-20118 2/5 colonialism by 2030 and the plan of action for the International Decades for the Eradication of Colonialism,4 Recognizing that the specific characteristics and the aspirations of the people of the United States Virgin Islands require flexible, practical and innovative approaches to the options for self-determination, without any prejudice to territorial size, geographical location, size of population or natural resources, Convinced that the wishes and aspirations of the people of the Territory should continue to guide the development of their future political status and that referendums, free and fair elections and other forms of popular consultation play an important role in ascertaining the wishes and aspirations of the people, Concerned by the use and exploitation of the natural resources of the Non-Self- Governing Territories by the administering Powers for their benefit, by the use of the Territories as international financial centres to the detriment of the world economy and by the consequences of any economic activities of the administering Powers that are contrary to the interests of the people of the Territories, as well as to resolution 1514 (XV), Convinced that any negotiations to determine the status of the Territory must take place with the active involvement and participation of the people of the Territory, under the auspices of the United Nations, on a case-by-case basis, and that the views of the people of the United States Virgin Islands in respect of their right to self- determination should be ascertained, Noting the continued cooperation of the Non-Self-Governing Territories at the local and regional levels, including participation in the work of regional organizations, Mindful that, in order for the Special Committee to enhance its understanding of the political status of the people of the United States Virgin Islands and to fulfil its mandate effectively, it is important for it to be apprised by the United States of America as the administering Power and to receive information from other appropriate sources, including the representatives of the Territory, concerning the wishes and aspirations of the people of the Territory, Aware of the importance both to the United States Virgin Islands and to the Special Committee of the participation of elected and appointed representatives of the United States Virgin Islands in the work of the Committee, Recognizing the need for the Special Committee to ensure that the appropriate bodies of the United Nations actively pursue a public awareness campaign aimed at assisting the people of the United States Virgin Islands with their inalienable right to self-determination and in gaining a better understanding of the options for self- determination, on a case-by-case basis, Mindful, in that connection, that the holding of regional seminars in the Caribbean and Pacific regions and at Headquarters, with the active participation of representatives of the Non-Self-Governing Territories, provides a helpful means for the Special Committee to fulfil its mandate and that the regional nature of the seminars, which alternate between the Caribbean and the Pacific, is a crucial element in the context of a United Nations programme for ascertaining the political status of the Territories, Welcoming the Pacific regional seminar on the theme “Pathways to a sustainable future – advancing socioeconomic and cultural development of the Non-Self- _______________ 4 A/56/61, annex. Question of the United States Virgin Islands A/RES/80/103 3/5 25-20118 Governing Territories”, held by the Special Committee in Dili, and hosted by the Government of Timor-Leste from 21 to 23 May 2025, as a significant and forward- looking event, which enabled the participants to assess progress made and address challenges faced in the decolonization process, review the existing working methods of the Committee and renew its commitment to implementing its historic task, Recalling the importance of the conclusions and recommendations adopted by the seminar, which are annexed to the report of the Special Committee and which outline the findings of the seminar, including, especially, the way forward for the decolonization process within the context of the proclamation by the General Assembly of the period 2021–2030 as the Fourth International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism,5 Welcoming the re-engagement of the Territory with the Special Committee in 2025, Noting the statement made by the Lieutenant Governor, as a representative of the Government of the United States Virgin Islands, at the 2025 Pacific regional seminar,6 Noting with appreciation the contribution to the development of some Territories by the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system, in particular the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, the United Nations Development Programme and the World Food Programme, as well as regional institutions such as the Caribbean Development Bank, the Caribbean Community, the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States, the Pacific Islands Forum and the agencies of the Council of Regional Organizations in the Pacific, Recalling the referendum held on 3 November 2020 on convening a constitutional convention to consider adopting the Revised Organic Act of the United States Virgin Islands, or portions of it, as the Constitution of the Territory, and noting the establishment and convening of the Sixth Constitutional Convention, Stressing the importance of regional ties for the development of a small island Territory, Recalling with concern the devastating damage and impact caused in the Territory by Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Maria in 2017, Noting the election that was held in November 2024,7 1. Reaffirms the inalienable right of the people of the United States Virgin Islands to self-determination, in conformity with the Charter of the United Nations and with General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV), containing the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples; 2. Also reaffirms that, in the process of decolonization of the United States Virgin Islands, there is no alternative to the principle of self-determination, which is also a fundamental human right, as recognized under the relevant human rights conventions; 3. Further reaffirms that it is ultimately for the people of the United States Virgin Islands to determine freely their future political status in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Charter, the Declaration and the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly, and in that connection calls upon the administering Power, in _______________ 5 See resolution 75/123. 6 Available at www.un.org/dppa/decolonization/en/c24/regional-seminars/2025. 7 A/AC.109/2025/16, para. 2. A/RES/80/103 Question of the United States Virgin Islands 25-20118 4/5 cooperation with the territorial Government and appropriate bodies of the United Nations system, to develop political education programmes for the Territory in order to foster an awareness among the people of their right to self-determination in conformity with the legitimate political status options, based on the principles clearly defined in Assembly resolution 1541 (XV) and other relevant resolutions and decisions; 4. Requests the administering Power to regularly provide the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples with relevant updates on the work of the Sixth Constitutional Convention, established following the referendum held in November 2020, and to assist the Territory in this process; 5. Also requests the administering Power to assist the Territory by facilitating its work concerning public educational outreach efforts, consistent with Article 73 b of the Charter, and in that regard calls upon the relevant United Nations organizations to provide assistance to the Territory, if requested; 6. Welcomes the establishment of the Office of Self-Determination and Constitutional Development in the University of the Virgin Islands, with funding from the administering Power, to address the issue of self-determination, including political status and constitutional education; 7. Reiterates its call for the inclusion of the Territory in regional programmes of the United Nations Development Programme, consistent with the participation of other Non-Self-Governing Territories; 8. Welcomes the active participation of the Territory in the work of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean; 9. Stresses that the Territory should continue to participate in the activities of the Special Committee, including regional seminars, in order to provide the Committee with up-to-date information regarding the decolonization process; 10. Also stresses the importance of the Special Committee being apprised of the views and wishes of the people of the United States Virgin Islands and enhancing its understanding of their conditions, including the nature and scope of the existing political and constitutional arrangements between the United States Virgin Islands and the administering Power; 11. Calls upon the administering Power to participate in and cooperate fully with the work of the Special Committee in order to implement the provisions of Article 73 e of the Charter and the Declaration and in order to advise the Committee on the implementation of the provisions under Article 73 b of the Charter on efforts to promote self-government in the United States Virgin Islands, and encourages the administering Power to facilitate visiting and special missions to the Territory; 12. Reaffirms the responsibility of the administering Power under the Charter to promote the economic and social development and to preserve the cultural identity of the Territory, and requests the administering Power to take steps to enlist and make effective use of all possible assistance, on both a bilateral and a multilateral basis, in the strengthening of the economy of the Territory; 13. Takes into account the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, 8 including the Sustainable Development Goals, stresses the importance of fostering the economic and social sustainable development of the Territory by promoting sustained, inclusive and equitable economic growth, creating greater opportunities for all, _______________ 8 Resolution 70/1. Question of the United States Virgin Islands A/RES/80/103 5/5 25-20118 reducing inequalities, raising basic standards of living, fostering equitable social development and inclusion and promoting the integrated and sustainable management of natural resources and ecosystems that supports, inter alia, economic, social and human development, while facilitating ecosystem conservation, regeneration, restoration and resilience in the face of new and emerging challenges, and strongly urges the administering Power to refrain from undertaking any kind of illicit, harmful and unproductive activities, including the use of the Territory as an international financial centre, that are not aligned with the interest of the people of the Territory; 14. Requests the Territory and the administering Power to take all measures necessary to protect and conserve the environment of the Territory against any degradation, and once again requests the specialized agencies concerned to monitor environmental conditions in the Territory and to provide assistance to the Territory, consistent with their prevailing rules of procedure; 15. Reiterates its call upon the administering Power, the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system and regional organizations to provide all the assistance necessary to the Territory, support the recovery and rebuilding efforts and enhance capabilities for emergency preparedness and risk reduction, in particular in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Maria that impacted the Territory in 2017; 16. Requests the Special Committee to continue to examine the question of the United States Virgin Islands and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its eighty-first session and on the implementation of the present resolution. 55th plenary meeting 5 December 2025

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