Biography

Wilma E. Reverón-Collazo is a human rights activist and attorney practicing employment, civil rights and family law in Puerto Rico. She is a member of the Board of Advisors of the American Civil Liberty Union (ACLU) Puerto Rico National Chapter and past Senior Staff Attorney. She is a member of the Commission on Constitutional Development of the Puerto Rico Bar Association that is dedicated to the study of the political relationship between the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the United States. She has made numerous appearances before the United Nations Special Committee on Decolonization on the question of Puerto Rico and before Caribbean Regional Seminars sponsored by the Committee. She has delivered papers and participated in conferences at universities, book fairs and seminars related to the decolonization of Puerto Rico, repression and civil rights both in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. She has also made presentations in special tribunals on Human Rights issues such as Vieques and repression in Puerto Rico. Her articles have appeared in Puerto Rico newspapers such as Claridad and El Nuevo Día and international magazines and publications such as Tricontinental (OSPAAL) and recently in Correos del Orinoco (Venezuela).

Article Title

Re-examining the role of UN present and future developments towards self-determination in the Caribbean

Abstract

The work to be presented will focus on the role of the international community and its principal organization, the UN, in the past, present and future developments towards self-determination in the Caribbean. These development depart from the recognition that it is in the Caribbean region where the majority of Non Self Governing Territories (NSGT) exist and where more diversity in political relations between the administering powers and the territories has been established. However, can we truly say that the different political status have really resulted in an authentic exercise of self-determination? Do these political arrangement comply with the standards and criteria established under UN Resolutions 1514 (XV) and 1541 (XV)? As to the territories that have achieved autonomous status, should there be standards and procedures for re-evaluation of territories removed from NSGT designation?

To seek the answers to these questions, a threefold analysis will be developed: first, whether the UN should undertake a profound and serious examination of to what extent it has been successful in ensuring true self-determination processes in the existing NSGT and in those that have been removed from the list. Not doing so, would only guarantee the repetition of past errors. The goals of the international community should always be clear: the end of colonialism in all its forms and manifestation. That is what should be accomplished. As long as neo-colonialism, dependency, foreign intervention and military occupation persist, the goals will remain unfulfilled.

Second, the fundamental role of education of the people under colonialism is the minimum objective the international community should aspire to ensure. Education towards freedom of want and fear. Education under the control of a non-interested party like the UN should be a pre-condition to any exercise of self-determination.

Third, the people under colonialism should not have to choose between political dignity in independence and economic security under colonialism. People under colonialism should not see their aspirations impeded by the fear of economic hardship. Administering powers should guarantee transitional aid as compensation for continued territorial occupation.

The approach to territorial affairs should be changed from the perspective of the administering power to the perspective of the people under colonialism. Decolonization should be focused primarily on the rights and necessities of the people in the colonial territories. The concern for the interests of the so called administering power should be seen in the light and from the perspective of guaranteeing the interests and the rights of the colonial people as the primary concern. The United nations Decolonization Committee as the specialized organism on which the United Nations Organization relies to move the decolonization agenda, must move to a more pro-active, hands-on initiatives to ensure international respect and applications of the principles that ensure the exercise of the right of self determination of the peoples under non-autonomous and non-self governing status.