The Rotary Balita no. 698 (June 19, 1952)

What Does "Self-Determination" Mean? Slogan of the Allies in the First World War, reaffirmed in the Atlantic Charter (1941) and repeatedly endorsed in the Charter of the United Nations, the principle of self-determination has received abundant lip service. In practice, the vigorous application of this principle has been manifest in the disintegration of many ancient empires and in the emergence of many new nations. History may indeed regard self-determination as the dominant impulse of this generation. This month, by request of the General Assembly, the Commission on Human Rights tried to sharpen the meaning of self-determination for inclusion in two separate covenants dealing with political and with economic and social rights. Despite the objection of certain powers, the right of all peoples to decide their own political and economic status was approved. Furthermore, the right of self-determi- nation includes permanent sovereignty over natural wealth and resources. To give effect to the right of self-determination the Commission approved an Indian proposal for holding plebiscites under United Nations super-vision.