United Nations

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UNIS/OS/394
18 March 2010

UN Agencies Coordinate Space-related Activities

Focus on Satellite Communications for Emergencies

VIENNA, 18 March (UN Information Service) - The United Nations Inter-Agency Meeting on Outer Space Activities concluded its 30th session on 12 March in Geneva. Future prospects for improved coordination, cooperation and synergy within the United Nations system in space-related activities and the importance of satellite communications during disasters and emergency situations were discussed. Organized by the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) and hosted by the International Telecommunication Union, the Inter-Agency Meeting agreed to further enhance UN common coordination efforts by adopting the following measures:

• Strengthening the Secretary-General's Report on coordination of space-related activities in the UN system by aligning it to the UN development agenda
• Re-structuring its contents in line with the thematic clusters of work and cross cutting issues of the Commission on Sustainable Development, given the increasing role that space technology and its applications have in achieving sustainable development
• Preparing special reports on selected topics biannually, with the next special report focusing on climate change and the use of space technology within the United Nations system

During the Meeting, Member States and UN agencies also met in the Open Informal Session to discuss "Space Technology for Emergency Communications" with a view to engaging Member States in a direct dialogue with UN entities on the importance of space technology to better predict catastrophes, warn people in advance and, when it occurs, quickly help and restore vital communications.

More information on the United Nations Inter-Agency Meeting on Outer Space Activities and its Open Informal Session can be found on the website for the United Nations coordination of outer space activities ( www.uncosa.unvienna.org/uncosa/index.html).

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The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) implements the decisions of the General Assembly and of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space and its two Subcommittees, the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee and the Legal Subcommittee. The Office is responsible for promoting international cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space, and assisting developing countries in using space science and technology. Located in Vienna, Austria, UNOOSA maintains a website at www.unoosa.org

ITU is the leading United Nations agency for information and communication technology issues, and the global focal point for governments and the private sector in developing networks and services. For 145 years, ITU has coordinated the shared global use of the radio spectrum, promoted international cooperation in assigning satellite orbits, worked to improve telecommunication infrastructure in the developing world, established the worldwide standards that foster seamless interconnection of a vast range of communications systems and addressed the global challenges of our times, such as mitigating the impact of natural disasters and climate change and strengthening cybersecurity. Visit their website at www.itu.int/newsroom

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For further information, please contact:

Jamshid Gaziyev
Associate Programme Officer, UNOOSA
Telephone: (+43-1) 26060-4958
Email: jamshid.gaziyev@unoosa.org
Website: www.unoosa.org