Why Self Determination? Nilavaram 150 th Program-2- 3/4

Why Self Determination? Nilavaram 150 th Program-2- 3/4
Self-determination or the right to self-determination is a theoretical principle that a people should have the freedom to determine their own governmental forms and structures. In most cases, the principle of self determination is used by an ethnic or religious minority within a specific geographic area when seeking independence from a majority to escape prejudice or persecution. However, the right to self-determination has been most effectively employed in the decolonization movement. Because there is a percieved risk that applying the principle of self-determination leads to the fragmentation of states, states have resisted the demand by people for their right to self determination. Although this principle was first applied in international relations by the American President Woodrow Wilson in his speech on January 8, 1918 outlining his14 points for reconstructing a new Europe after World War I, the right of all people to self-determination was not introduced into the framework of international law and diplomacy until the UN Charter was ratified in 1945. The United Nations Charter is the constitution of the United Nations. The 50 original member countries signed it at the United Nations Conference on International Organisation in San Francisco on June 26, 1945. It entered into force on October 24, 1945, after being ratified by the five founding members—the Republic of China, France, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, and the United States—and a majority of the other signatories. As a Charter it is a constituent treaty, and all signatories are bound by its articles. Furthermore, it explicitly says that the Charter trumps all other treaty obligations. As most countries in the world have now ratified this Charter, including Sri Lanka, all the signatories are bound by this treaty to accept the right to their self-determination of a people living in their respective territories. Exercise of the right to self-determination was most effectively employed in the decolonisation movement. Decolonisation could be achieved by attaining independence, integrating with the administering power or another state, or establishing a "free association" status. The UN has stated that in the process of decolonisation there is no alternative to the principle of self-determination.

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