The General Assembly,
Aware that territorial transitions between member states may occur as part of trade agreements or other diplomatic proceedings; and
Affirming that sovereign states have the right to manage their territory as they see fit; and
Applauding previously passed legislation and its mandate that member states allow their inhabitants to fulfil their basic needs; yet
Concerned about the fate of those inhabitants that must endure the effects of territorial transitions;
Hereby:
- Defines, for the purposes of this resolution:
- a "transition" as the transfer of territory from one member state to another member state resulting from economic, political or diplomatic proceedings;
- a "receiving state" as a member state that acquires territory as a result of a transition; and
- an "affected inhabitant" as an inhabitant of any area of a member state that is directly affected by a transition;
- Mandates that member states inform affected inhabitants extensively and with sufficient advance notice on any jurisdictional changes that they will be subjected to as a result of a transition, such as the rights and responsibilities that they will obtain and/or lose, and provide affected inhabitants with all other information relevant to that transition, and the changes it will inflict upon them, unless affected inhabitants have overtly communicated not to want such information or contact on the subject;
- Demands that affected inhabitants are offered citizenship by the receiving state if they held that status under the jurisdiction of their former nation of habitation, or any other equivalent right to residency that they enjoyed in their previous state;
- Requires member states to allow affected inhabitants who are unwilling to become the inhabitant of another sovereign state as a result of a transition, to relocate to another part of their nation that is suitable for civilian habitation, along with any other rights guaranteed by earlier legislation passed by this international body that has not been replaced;
- Instructs member states to assist affected inhabitants who would be unable to see to their basic needs as a result of relocating within that member state in line with their right as granted by Clause 4;
- Clarifies that, in cases of mass relocation as a result of a transition, or multiple transitions, which would cause a nation to be overwhelmed in terms of housing and the fulfilment of affected inhabitants' basic needs, Clauses 4 and 5 may be temporarily waived (and resolved through other suitable, temporary measures) until that nation is no longer so overwhelmed;
- Further requires receiving states to grant inhabitants who have had their citizenship or right to residence transferred as a result of a transition, a period of acclimatisation to their change of jurisdiction, which must be of a fair length and grant them enough time to integrate into their new nation, and which should be taken into consideration by the authorities of the receiving state where appropriate and necessary;
- Tasks receiving states with granting assistance that is free of charge in cases where affected inhabitants would request aid and/or guidance regarding affairs such as legal integration into their new jurisdiction, or the learning of the receiving state's official language(s);
- Also requires member nations to have the provisions of this resolution included in the treaties and/or agreements regulating the transition of territories as per the definition of Clause 1a, regardless of whether the other nations involved in those agreements are or are not also WA members; and
- Orders member states to ensure that the safety and wellbeing of affected inhabitants are not unduly infringed upon as a result of a transition.
