Core Principle: The Right to Self-Determination of Peoples Article 1, paragraph 2 of the UN Charter establishes the principle of self-determination of peoples. Important related documents include:

• • The 1960 Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples (Resolution 1514) – primarily aimed at colonial independence.

  • Declaration on Principles of International Law (Resolution 2625), 1970 – Further elaboration on the scope of the right to self-determination. Under what circumstances is the right to self-determination more recognized?

Key Limitation: The Principle of Territorial Integrity

The United Nations' simultaneous upholding of the principle of national territorial integrity creates tension with the right to self-determination. The International Court of Justice, in its 2010 Kosovo Advisory Opinion, stated: International law does not prohibit unilateral declarations of independence, but this does not equate to granting a general right to secession.

Conditions for Practical Operation

For an independence referendum to have international legitimacy, it typically requires:

1. Mother country consent — such as the 2014 Scottish referendum (authorized by the UK Parliament), the Quebec referendum (consented by the Canadian federal government)

2. UN authorization or oversight — such as East Timor in 1999, South Sudan in 2011

3. Peace negotiation process — rather than unilateral declaration

Conclusion: The United Nations position is that there is no universally recognized right to unilateral independent referendums, but under specific conditions (especially in colonies, occupied territories, or with the consent of the mother country), such referendums can be recognized by the international community. Each case is highly dependent on its specific political and historical context.