United Nations

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UNIS/OS/473
15 September 2016

Tenth United Nations Space Law Workshop makes recommendations for the future of space security

VIENNA, 15 September (UN Information Service) - The  10th United Nations Workshop on Space Law closed last week in Vienna after four days of deliberations about the future of international space law, space governance and space security.

Organized by the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) in cooperation with the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs, and supported by the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research and the Secure World Foundation, the workshop brought together a broad range of experts in the fields of space law and policy, international security, and capacity-building, as well as representatives of the diplomatic community in Vienna.

Participants discussed the safety, security and sustainability of outer space activities, how to build the capacity of developing countries in space law, and the intersection of space law and security with other emerging topics, such as cyber security. Recommendations from the workshop included:

• The inclusion of a new item on the agenda of the General Assembly devoted to space security and sustainability;

• Further consideration by the international community of the connection between cyber security and the security of space systems;

• The promotion of adherence to the United Nations treaties on outer space, membership of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS), and transparency and confidence-building measures in outer space activities;

• An enhanced role for UNOOSA in establishing a United Nations model law on national space activities and a model agreement on space cooperation;

• Stronger common decision-making by COPUOS and its two subcommittees; and

• Enhanced information exchange and notification procedures to support the safety, security and sustainability of outer space activities.

"The space arena is rapidly changing as more and more actors - both governmental and private - become active in space technology and exploration. Events like this workshop are an important and valuable opportunity for the international space community to consider the status of international space law and where more needs to be done. I am really pleased with the level and quality of debate at this year's workshop and the recommendations that emerged," said UNOOSA Director Simonetta Di Pippo.

The recommendations from the 10th Workshop on Space Law will directly contribute to the UNISPACE+50 preparatory process. UNISPACE+50 will be an event in June 2018 that will commemorate the 50th anniversary of the first United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space and be an opportunity for the international community to set the future course of global space cooperation and governance.

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For further information, please contact:

Daria Brankin
United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA)
Telephone: (+43-1) 26060-8718
Email: daria.brankin[at]unoosa.org