A/RES/80/90 GA

United Nations A/RES/80/90 General Assembly Distr.: General 8 December 2025 25-20093 (E) *2520093* 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)] 80/90. Question of American Samoa The General Assembly, Having considered the question of American Samoa 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 American Samoa2 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 American Samoa 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 American Samoa, Conscious of the importance of continuing the effective implementation of the Declaration, taking into account the target set by the United Nations to eradicate colonialism by 2030 and the plan of action for the International Decades for the Eradication of Colonialism,4 _______________ 1 Official Records of the General Assembly, Eightieth Session, Supplement No. 23 (A/80/23). 2 A/AC.109/2025/1. 3 Resolution 1514 (XV). 4 A/56/61, annex. A/RES/80/90 Question of American Samoa 25-20093 2/6 Recognizing that the specific characteristics and the aspirations of the people of American Samoa 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 American Samoa 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 American Samoa 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 American Samoa and to the Special Committee of the participation of elected and appointed representatives of American Samoa 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 American Samoa 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- 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, Question of American Samoa A/RES/80/90 3/6 25-20093 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 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 statement made by a representative of the Governor of American Samoa at the 2018 Pacific regional seminar,6 Recalling also the statement made by that representative in which he expressed his view that the people of American Samoa were happy with the relationship with the administering Power, which could be described as strong and healthy as well as beneficial to the people and the Government of the Territory, and that the most important benefit to American Samoa had been the protection of its Indigenous rights to the land as provided for in the Deeds of Cession, Recalling further the statement made by the representative that the political status of American Samoa as an unincorporated and unorganized territory of the administering Power limited its ability to self-government and exposed it to decisions made by the administering Power, Recalling the statement by the representative that, while certain aspects of the form of government of the Territory and its relationship with the administering Power were challenging and in need of improvement, the solutions could be found within the confines of the political and judicial systems of the administering Power and that the territorial Government was pursuing legal actions to counteract the impact of unfavourable federal actions and sought the international community’s tacit support, Noting with serious concern that the Territory last participated in the activities of the Special Committee in 2018, Recalling the decisions of the United States judiciary in which it dismissed a lawsuit seeking a declaratory judgment that would have asserted that the citizenship clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States extended to American Samoa, and taking note of the decision in which the petition for a writ of certiorari was denied,7 Noting another case before the United States judiciary regarding the citizenship clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, 8 and the decisions taken on the matter, _______________ 5 See resolution 75/123. 6 Available at www.un.org/dppa/decolonization/en/c24/regional-seminars/2018. 7 Decisions of the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, issued on 5 June and 2 October 2015, affirming the judgment of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, and of the Supreme Court of the United States on 13 June 2016, in connection with Tuaua v. United States. 8 Fitisemanu v. United States. A/RES/80/90 Question of American Samoa 25-20093 4/6 Stressing the importance of regional ties for the development of a small island Territory, Recalling the creation in February 2022 of the American Samoa Constitutional Review Committee, Recalling also the holding of the 2022 Constitutional Convention, from 29 August to 2 September 2022, at which 11 amendments were approved by delegates to the Convention, Recalling further the holding of the constitutional referendum in November 2022, Acknowledging the outcome of the referendum held on 8 November 2022, in which the proposal to give the Fono, the Territory’s legislature, the authority to override the Governor’s veto was rejected, Noting that legislation passed by the United States Congress and signed into law on 4 January 2025 repeals the statute preventing the people of American Samoa from approving amendments or modifications to the constitution of the Territory without an act of Congress, thereby enabling constitutional changes to be approved by the Secretary of the Interior, Noting the general elections held in the Territory in November 2024, 9 1. Reaffirms the inalienable right of the people of American Samoa 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 American Samoa, 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 American Samoa 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 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. Takes note of the work of the territorial Government with respect to moving forward on political status, local autonomy and self-governance issues with a view to making political and economic progress, and recalls the establishment in April 2016 of the Office of Political Status, Constitutional Review and Federal Relations; 5. Recalls the outcomes of the referendum on proposed amendments to the Constitution of American Samoa held on 8 November 2022, in which voters approved five amendments, and the transmittal of these amendments to the Secretary of the Interior of the United States of America on 14 December 2022; 6. Notes the legislation enacted in January 2025 to restore the ability of the people of American Samoa to approve amendments to the territorial Constitutions without further Congressional action; _______________ 9 A/AC.109/2025/1, paras. 4, 6 and 7. Question of American Samoa A/RES/80/90 5/6 25-20093 7. Also recalls the indication by the territorial Government that American Samoa should remain on the list of Non-Self-Governing Territories, under the purview 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, until such time as its people have exercised their right to self-determination; 8. Further recalls the invitation extended in 2015 by the Governor of American Samoa to the Special Committee to send a visiting mission to the Territory, calls upon the administering Power to facilitate such a mission if the territorial Government so desires, and requests the Chair of the Special Committee to take all the steps necessary to that end; 9. 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; 10. 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; 11. Also stresses the importance of the Special Committee being apprised of the views and wishes of the people of American Samoa and enhancing its understanding of their conditions, including the nature and scope of the existing political and constitutional arrangements between American Samoa and the administering Power; 12. 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 American Samoa, and encourages the administering Power to facilitate visiting and special missions to the Territory; 13. 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; 14. Takes into account the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, 10 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, 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; 15. 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 _______________ 10 Resolution 70/1. A/RES/80/90 Question of American Samoa 25-20093 6/6 environmental conditions in the Territory and to provide assistance to the Territory, consistent with their prevailing rules of procedure; 16. Requests the Special Committee to continue to examine the question of American Samoa 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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