Security Council resolution 202 (1965) [Southern Rhodesia]

Resolution 202 (1965) of 6 May 1965

The Security Council,

Having examined the situation in Southern Rhodesia,

Recalling General Assembly resolutions 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960, 1947 (XVI) of 28 June 1962, 1970 (XVII) of 31 October 1962, 1883 (XVIII) of 14 October 1963 and 1889 (XVIII) of 6 November 1963 and the resolutions of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, especially its resolution of 22 April 1965,^[1]

Endorsing the requests which the General Assembly and the Special Committee have many times addressed to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to obtain:

(a) The release of all political prisoners, detainees and restrictees,

(b) The repeal of all repressive and discriminatory legislation, and in particular the Law and Order (Maintenance) Act and the Land Apportionment Act,

(c) The removal of all restrictions on political activity and the establishment of full democratic freedom and equality of political rights,

Noting that the Special Committee has drawn the attention of the Security Council to the grave situation prevailing in Southern Rhodesia and, in particular, to the serious implications of the elections announced to take place on 7 May 1965 under a constitution which has been rejected by the majority of the people of Southern Rhodesia and the abrogation of which has repeatedly been called for by the General Assembly and the Special Committee since 1962,

Deeply disturbed at the further worsening of the situation in the Territory due to the application of the aforementioned Constitution of 1961 and to recent events, especially the minority Government's threats of a unilateral declaration of independence,

1. Notes the United Kingdom Government's statement of 27 October 1964^[2] specifying the conditions under which Southern Rhodesia might attain independence;

2. Notes further and approves the opinion of the majority of the population of Southern Rhodesia that the United Kingdom should convene a constitutional conference;

3. Requests the United Kingdom Government and all States Members of the United Nations not to accept a unilateral declaration of independence for Southern Rhodesia by the minority Government;

4. Requests the United Kingdom to take all necessary action to prevent a unilateral declaration of independence;

5. Requests the United Kingdom Government not to transfer under any circumstances to its colony of Southern Rhodesia, as at present governed, any of the powers or attributes of sovereignty, but to promote the country's attainment of independence by a democratic system of government in accordance with the aspirations of the majority of the population;

6. Further requests the United Kingdom Government to enter into consultations with all concerned with a view to convening a conference of all political parties in order to adopt new constitutional provisions acceptable to the majority of the people of Southern Rhodesia, so that the earliest possible date may be set for independence;

7. Decides to keep the question of Southern Rhodesia on its agenda.

Adopted at the 1202nd meeting by 7 votes to none, with 4 abstentions (France, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America).

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1 See Official Records of the General Assembly, Twentieth Session, Annexes, addendum to agenda item 23 (document A/6000/Rev.1), chap. III, para. 292.

2 Ibid., chap. III, appendix II.