Advocates for Kosova Independence (AKI)
www.alb-net.com/aki/

Bridging Self-Determination and Sovereignty:
The Intermediate Sovereignty Project 

United Nations

General UN Principles

UN Charter and Related Covenants

Within the UN Charter three provisions are important when analyzing the
legal foundations of self-determinations.

Chap. 1, Art. 1, Para. 2 firmly embeds the principle of self-determination
in the mission of the UN. The relevant language instructs the UN:

"To develop friendly relations among nations based on respect for the
principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples".
http://www.unhchr.ch/html/menu3/b/ch-chp1.htm 

Chap 1, Art. 2, Para. 4, however, reduces the breadth of this statement by
stating that UN member states:

"shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of
force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any
state . . . ." http://www.unhchr.ch/html/menu3/b/ch-chp1.htm 

Chap. 11, Art. 73, The Declaration Regarding Non-self-governing Territories,
provides useful insight in the UN providing the right of self-determination
to people under colonial rule.
http://www.unhchr.ch/html/menu3/b/ch-chp11.htm 

Besides the UN Charter the International Covenant on Economic, Social and
Cultural Rights http://www.unhchr.ch/html/menu3/b/a_cescr.htm  and the
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
http://www.unhchr.ch/html/menu3/b/a_ccpr.htm  explicitly recognize all
peoplešs right to self-determination in Part 1, Art. 1 and obligates states
to promote the realization of peoplešs right to self-determination in Part
1, Art. 3. 

Universal realization of the right of peoples to self-determination,
A/RES/43/105, 75th plenary meeting, 8 December 1988

The General Assembly


Declaration Granting Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples (1960)
relies primarily on the principle of self-determination to forcefully
criticize colonialism.
http://www.unhchr.ch/html/menu3/b/c_coloni.htm 
Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to
Colonial Countries and Peoples (2000) reviewing the current status of the
original declaration.
http://www.un.org/documents/ga/docs/55/a55578.pdf 
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 (2000) the first section of a three part
report analyzing the implementation of the 1960 declaration.
http://www.un.org/documents/ga/docs/55/a5523p1.pdf 
The Declaration on the Right to Development (1986) reaffirms the right to
self-determination and links it with the right to development.
http://www.unhchr.ch/html/menu3/b/74.htm 
Declaration on Permanent Sovereignty over Natural Resources (1962) joining
the principle of peoplešs right to self-determination with control over
their countries natural resources.
http://www.unhchr.ch/html/menu3/b/c_natres.htm 
Report of the Third Committee on the Right of Peoples to Self- Determination
(2000) providing draft resolutions on issues relating to self-determination.
http://www.un.org/documents/ga/docs/55/a55601.pdf 
Use of Mercenaries as a Means of Violating Human Rights and Impeding the
Exercise of the Right of Peoples to Self-Determination (2000) expanding the
principle of self-determination.
http://www.un.org/documents/ga/docs/55/a55334.pdf 


U.N. Impact on Self-Determination
Please note some active links are to Westlaw - password is required

Perez, Antonio F., On the Way to the Forum: the Reconstruction of Article
2(7) and Rise of Federalism under the United Nations Charter, 31 Tex. Int'l
L.J. 353 (Summer 1996)


Stoelting, David, The Challenge of Un-monitored Elections in Independent
Nations, 28 Stan. J. Int'l L. 371 (Spring 1992)

 Š Intermediate Sovereignty Project 2001