In the Åland case, nearly 300 small islands forming an archipelago were incorporated within Finland without holding a referendum on whether to unite with Finland or Sweden, since they were Swedish-speaking people.

The claim was ultimately resolved in 1920 by a committee of jurists (Council) under the League of Nations, where it was decided that the inhabitants of the Åland Islands did not have the right to separate from Finland to unite with Sweden, because it could only be considered in an exceptional situation as a last resort when the state lacks, or is unwilling to apply, just and effective guarantees.

The sovereignty of the Åland Islands was recognised to belong to Finland, but guarantees were required to be ensured, aiming at the preservation of the Swedish language in schools, maintenance of their landed property within the islands in the hands of the Åland inhabitants, imposing restrictions on the exercise of newcomers, and assuring the appointment of governors having the confidence of the people residing there. The autonomy of the people residing there is being maintained accordingly.

The Swedish approach in the Åland case is in conformity with the right of internal self-determination and is relevant to avoid attempted secession.

The right to self-determination rapidly emerged after the adoption of the UN Charter in 1945, thereafter followed by the adoption of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, 1966, wherein Article 1 of the Covenant spells out that “all peoples have the right of self-determination; by virtue of that right they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development."

In the Western Sahara case (ICJ Report, 1975), it was........

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