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742 (VIII). Factors which should be taken into account in decidingwhether a Territory is or is not a Territory whose people have not yetattained a full measure of self-government.  The General Assembly,  Bearing in mind the principles embodied in the Declaration regardingNon-Self-Governing Territories and the objectives set forth in ChapterXI of the Charter,  Recalling the provisions of resolutions 567 (VI) and 648 (VII),adopted by the General Assembly on 18 January and 10 December 1952respectively, indicating the value of establishing a list of factorswhich should be taken into account in deciding whether a Territory hasor has not attained a full measure of self-government,Having regard to the competence of the General Assembly to consider theprinciples that should guide the United Nations and the Member States inthe implementation of obligations arising from Chapter XI of the Charterand to make recommendations in connexion with them,Having examined the report of the Ad Hoc Committee on Factors(Non-Self-Governing Territories) set up by resolution 648 (VII),1. Takes note of the conclusions of the report of the Ad Hoc Committeeon Factors (Non-Self-Governing Territories);2. Approves the list of factors as adopted by the Fourth Committee;3. Recommends that the annexed list of factors should be used by theGeneral Assembly and the Administering Members as a guide indetermining whether any Territory, due to changes in its constitutionalstatus, is or is no longer within the scope of Chapter XI of theCharter, in order that, in view of the documentation provided underresolution 222 (III) of 3 November 1948, a decision may be taken by theGeneral Assembly on the continuation or cessation of the transmission ofinformation required by Chapter XI of the Charter;4. Reasserts that each concrete case should be considered and decidedupon in the light of the particular circumstances of that case andtaking into account the right of self-determination of peoples;5. Considers that the validity of any form of association between aNon-Self-Governing Territory and a metropolitan or any other countryessentially depends on the freely expressed will of the people at thetime of the taking of the decision;6. Considers that the manner in which Territories referred to inChapter XI of the Charter can become fully self-governing is primarilythrough the attainment of independence, although it is recognized thatself-government can also be achieved by association with another stateor group of states if this is done freely and on the basis of absoluteequality;7. Reaffirms that the factors, while serving as a guide in determiningwhether the obligation as set forth in Chapter XI of the Charter shallexist, would in no way be interpreted as a hindrance to the attainmentof a full measure of self-government by the Non-Self-GoverningTerritory;8. Further reaffirms that, for a Territory to be deemed self-governingin economic, social or educational affairs, it is essential that itspeople shall have attained a full measure of self-government;9. Instructs the Committee on Information from Non-Self-GoverningTerritories to study any documentation transmitted hereafter underresolution 222 (III) in the light of the list of factors approved bythe present resolution, and other relevant consideration which mayarise from each concrete case of cessation of information;10. Recommends that the Committee on Information fromNon-Self-Governing Territories take the initiative of proposingmodifications at any time to improve the list of factors, as may seemnecessary in the light of circumstances.459th plenary meeting27 November 1953ANNEXList of FactorsFACTORS INDICATIVE OF THE ATTAINMENT OF INDEPENDENCE OR OF OTHERSEPARATE SYSTEMS OF SELF-GOVERNMENTFirst PartFACTORS INDICATIVE OF THE ATTAINMENT OF INDEPENDENCEA. International Status  1. International responsibility. Full international responsibility ofthe Territory for the acts inherent in the exercise of its externalsovereignty and for the corresponding acts in the administration of itsinternal affairs.  2. Eligibility for membership in the United Nations  3. General International Relations. Power to enter into directrelations of every kind with other governments and with internationalinstitutions and to negotiate, sign and ratify internationalinstruments.  4. National defence. Sovereign right to provide for its nationaldefence.B. Internal Self-Government  1. Form of government. Complete freedom of the people of theTerritory to choose the form of government which they desire.  2. Territorial government. Freedom from control of interference bythe government of another State in respect of the internal government(legislature, executive, judiciary, and administration of theTerritory).  3. Economic, social and cultural jurisdiction. Complete autonomy inrespect of economic, social and cultural affairs.Second PartFACTORS INDICATING THE ATTAINMENT OF OTHER SEPARATE SYSTEMS OFSELF-GOVERNMENTA. General  1. Opinion of the population. The opinion of the population of theTerritory, freely expressed by informed and democratic processes, as tothe status or change in status which they desire.  2. Freedom of choice. Freedom of choosing on the basis of the rightof self-determination of peoples between several possibilities,including independence.  3. Voluntary limitation of sovereignty. Degree of evidence that theattribute or attributes of sovereignty which are not individuallyexercised will be collectively exercised by the larger entity thusassociated and the freedom of the population of a Territory which asassociation itself with the metropolitan country to modify at any timethis status through the expression of their will by democratic means.  4. Geographical considerations. Extent to which the relations of theNon-Self-Governing Territory with the capital of the metropolitangovernment may be affected by circumstances arising out of theirrespective geographical positions, such as separation by land, sea orother natural obstacles; and extent to which the interests of boundaryStates may be affected, bearing in mind the general principles ofgood-neighborliness referred to in Article 74 of the Charter.  5. Ethnic and cultural considerations. Extent to which thepopulations are of different race, language or religion or have adistinct cultural heritage, interests or aspirations, distinguishingthem from the country with which they freely associate themselves.  6. Political advancement. Political advancement of the populationsufficient to enable them to decide upon the future destiny of theTerritory with knowledge.B. Internal status  1. General international relations. Degree or extent to which theterritory exercises the power to enter freely into direct relations ofevery kind with other governments and with international institutionsand to negotiate, sign and ratify international instruments freely.Degree or extent to which the metropolitan country is bound, throughconstitutional provisions or legislative means, by the freely expressedwishes of the Territory in negotiating, signing and ratifyinginternational conventions which may influence conditions in theTerritory.  2. Change of political status. The right of the metropolitan countryor the Territory to change the political status of that Territory inthe light of the consideration whether that Territory is or is notsubject to any claim or litigation on the part of another State.  3. Eligibility for membership in the United Nations.C. Internal self-government  1. Territorial government. Nature and measure of control orinterference, if any, by the government of another State in respect ofthe internal government, for example, in respect of the following:  Legislature: The enactments of laws for the Territory by anindigenous body whether fully elected by free and democratic processesor lawfully constituted in a manner receiving the free consent of thepopulation;  Executive: The selection of members of the executive branch of thegovernment by the competent authority in the Territory receivingconsent of the indigenous population, whether that authority ishereditary or elected, having regard also to the nature and measure ofcontrol, if any, by an outside agency on that authority, whetherdirectly of indirectly exercised in the constitution and conduct of theexecutive branch of the government.  Judiciary: The establishments of courts of law and the selection ofjudges.  2. Participation of the population. Effective participation of thepopulation in the government of the Territory; (a) is there an adequateand appropriate electoral and representative system? (b) Is thiselectoral system conducted without direct or indirect interference froma foreign government?  3. Economic, social and cultural jurisdiction. Degree of autonomy inrespect of economic, social and cultural affairs, as illustrated by thedegree of freedom from economic pressure as exercised, for example, by aforeign minority group which, by virtue of the help of a foreign Power,has acquired a privileged economic status prejudicial to the generaleconomic interest of the people of the Territory; and by the degree offreedom and lack of discrimination against the indigenous population ofthe Territory in social legislation and social developments.Third partFACTORS INDICATIVE OF THE FREE ASSOCIATION OF A TERRITORY ON EQUALBASIS WITH THE METROPOLITAN OR OTHER COUNTRY AS AN INTEGRAL PART OFTHAT COUNTRY OR IN ANY OTHER FORMA. General  1. Opinion of the population. The opinion of the population of theTerritory, freely expressed by informed and democratic processes, as tothe status or change in status which they desire.  2. Freedom of choice. The freedom of the population of aNon-Self-Governing Territory which has associated itself with themetropolitan country as an integral part of that country or in anyother form to modify this status through the expression of their willbe democratic means.  3. Geographical considerations. Extent to which the relations of theTerritory with the capital of the central government may be affected bycircumstances arising out of their respective geographical positions,such as separation by land, sea or other natural obstacles. The rightof the metropolitan country or the Territory to change the politicalstatus of that Territory in the light of the consideration whether thatTerritory is or is not subject to any claim or litigation on the part ofanother State.  4. Ethnic and cultural considerations. Extent to which thepopulations are of different race, language or religion or have adistinct cultural heritage, interests or aspirations, distinguishingthem from the peoples of the country with which they freely associatethemselves.  5. Political advancement. Political advancement of the populationsufficient to enable them to decide upon the future destiny of theTerritory with due knowledge.  6. Constitutional considerations. Association by virtue of a treatyor bilateral agreement affecting the status of the Territory, takinginto account (i) whether the constitutional guarantees extend equallyto the associated Territory, (ii) whether there are powers in certainmatters constitutionally reserved to the Territory or in the centralauthority, and (iii) whether there is provision for the participationof the Territory on a basis of equality in any changes in theconstitutional system of the State.B. Status  1. Legislative representation. Representation without discriminationin the central legislative organs on the same basis as otherinhabitants and regions.  2. Participation of the population. Effective participation of thepopulation in the government of the Territory: (a) Is there an adequateand appropriate electoral and representative system? (b) Is thiselectoral system conducted without direct or indirect interference froma foreign government?  3. Citizenship. Citizenship without discrimination on the same basisas other inhabitants.  4. Government officials. Eligibility of officials from the Territoryto all public offices of the central authority, by appointment orelection, on the same basis as those from other parts of the country.C. Internal constitutional conditions  1. Suffrage. Universal and equal suffrage, and free periodicelections, characterized by an absence of undue influence over andcoercion of the voter or of the imposition of disabilities onparticular political parties.  2. Local rights and status. In a unitary system equal rights andstatus for the inhabitants and local bodies of the Territory as enjoyedby inhabitants and local bodies of other parts of the country; in afederal system an identical degree of self-government for theinhabitants and local bodies of all parts of the federation.  3. Local officials. Appointment or election of officials in theTerritory on the same basis as those in other parts of the country.  4. Integral legislation. Local self-government of the same scope andunder the same conditions as enjoyed by other parts of the country.  5. Economic, social and cultural jurisdiction. Degree of autonomy inrespect of economic, social and cultural affairs, as illustrated by thedegree of freedom from economic pressure as exercised, for example, by aforeign minority group which, by virtue of the help of a foreign Power,has acquired a privileged economic status prejudicial to the generaleconomic interest of the people of the Territory; and by the degree offreedom and lack of discrimination against the indigenous population ofthe Territory in social legislation and social developments.

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