12/03/2025
PRESS RELEASE
HEADLINE - UN Decolonization process initiated by Liberation Scotland
DATELINE ā 11th March 2025, Scotland
LEAD - Scotlandās decolonization process has begun with the submission of Scotlandās case to the United Nationās Special Committee on Decolonization (C-24).
A copy of the Advance Notice of Petition and supporting papers can be viewed on the Liberation movement website: www.liberation.scot
On 7 March, on behalf of more than 17,000 members of Liberation Scotland, Justice pour Tous
Internationale notified the Secretary-General of the United Nations in New York and the Chair and
Bureau of the United Nations Special Committee on Decolonization (C-24) of the establishment of
Scotlandās peaceful liberation movement. It also submitted an advance notice of petition for the
formal recognition of Scotland as a Non-Self-Governing Territory under the United Nations
decolonization framework, in accordance with the principles enshrined in United Nations General
Assembly Resolutions 1514 (XV), 1541 (XV), and 1654 (XVI), and Chapter XI of the UN Charter.
Together, these establish the legal basis for decolonization (that is, independence) and the right to
self-determination for peoples under external governance.
The Advance Notice argues that the UK government has actively obstructed Scotlandās right to self-
determination, in contravention of UN General Assembly Resolution 1514 (XV), which states, "all
peoples have the right to self-determination" and that the "subjection of peoples to alien subjugation,
domination and exploitation constitutes a denial of fundamental human rights."
Professor Alf Baird, co-convener of the Liberation Scotland committee said:
āScotlandās political and constitutional status aligns with the established international criteria for
recognition as a Non-Self-Governing Territory. The forthcoming petition aims to rectify Scotlandās
exclusion from the UN decolonization agenda by formally requesting its inclusion on the list of Non-
Self-Governing Territories, thereby initiating the process for Scotlandās recognition as a territory
entitled to self-determination and independence under UN oversight.ā He added: āThis is a
momentous development but necessary due to the undemocratic nature of our political system
whereby successive elected majorities of nationalist politicians in Scotland have failed to deliver
independence, and with the UK Government continuing to block the inalienable right of Scots to self-
determination. There is also the realization that colonial exploitation and domination of Scotland and
its people must be ended and can be, via the UN decolonization process Liberation Scotland has
initiated. Almost all former colonies that have become independent countries since the creation of the
United Nations in 1945 have done so through the UN self-determination and decolonization process.ā
Sara Salyers, Director Salvo Scotland, the Campaign Organization of Liberation Scotland,
commented:
āContrary to what we in Scotland ā as well as the world at large ā have been led to believe, the
historical incorporation of Scotland into the United Kingdom in 1707 did not constitute a voluntary
partnership. It was never an expression of self-determination, but a process marked by political
coercion, by the threats of economic sanctions and military invasion and by bribery. Ultimately, it saw
the abandonment by England of the Treaty of Union in favour of the annexation and ongoing
colonization of Scotland. The dissolution of Scotlandās independent governance structures followed,
along with the displacement of the indigenous population, the suppression of Scotlandās cultures,
and the colonial exploitation of Scotlandās maritime and territorial assets. The denial of Scotlandās
democratic rights has continued ever since.
By misrepresenting Scotland as a voluntary partner in the creation of a new state, rather than a
dependency of the English Crown, the UK government has failed to meet its responsibility under the
criteria set forth by the United Nations under Resolution 1541 (XV): Principles which should guide
Members in determining whether or not an obligation exists to transmit the information called for
under Article 73e of the United Nations Charter. What Liberation Scotland now seeks is both internationally lawful, and a fundamental human right. Itis simple justice for our nation and long overdue.ā
Sharof Azizov, Executive Director, Justice pour Tous Internationale, has commended the strength of
the case:
āThe Advance Notice of Petition convincingly argues that Scotland lost its political autonomy and
became a colony under Westminsterās governance and that this and other institutions of the state
have systemically eroded Scotlandās constitutional distinctiveness and suppressed Scotlandās rights
to self-determination.ā
Given the compelling evidence demonstrating Scotlandās continued governance under external
authority, its lack of full self-government, and the systematic denial of its right to self-determination,
the Advance Notice will follow in due time with a formal request urging the C-24 to formally recognize
Scotland as a Non-Self-Governing Territory within the UN decolonization framework, in accordance
with the legal criteria set forth in Resolution 1541 (XV) (1960) and the principles articulated in
Resolution 1514 (XV) (1960). The evidence presented in this submission will establish that Scotland
satisfies the requirements for classification as a territory that has not yet achieved a full measure of
self-government and therefore qualifies for inclusion on the UN list of Non-Self-Governing Territories.
A copy of the Advance Notice of Petition and supporting papers can be viewed on the Liberation movement website: www.liberation.scot
END
For further information contact: ā [email protected]
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