Editing Declaration of independence (section)

{{Short description|Assertion by a defined territory that it is independent and constitutes a state}}
{{Other uses}}

A '''declaration of independence''' is an assertion by a [[polity]] in a defined territory that it is [[independence|independent]] and constitutes a [[Sovereign state|state]]. Such places are usually declared from part or all of the [[territory]] of another state or failed state, or are breakaway territories from within the larger state. In 2010, the UN's [[International Court of Justice]] ruled in [[advisory opinion on Kosovo's declaration of independence|an advisory opinion in Kosovo]] that "International law contains no prohibition on declarations of independence",<ref name="International Court of Justice">{{cite web |url=http://www.icj-cij.org/docket/files/141/15987.pdf |title=Accordance with International Law of the Unilateral Declaration of Independence in Respect of Kosovo |publisher=Icj-cij.org |access-date=November 5, 2024 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100821055950/http://www.icj-cij.org/docket/files/141/15987.pdf |archive-date=2010-08-21 }}</ref> though the state from which the territory wishes to secede may regard the declaration as [[rebellion]], which may lead to a [[list of wars of independence|war of independence]] or a constitutional settlement to resolve the crisis.