Outer space is critical for humankind. All countries, irrespective of whether they are spacefaring or not, rely on space services on a daily basis. As such, ensuring peace and security in outer space is of the utmost importance. Humankind has never been more reliant on space, but neither has it been more challenging to ensure the peace and security of this essential environment and its systems. The increase in the number of actors, as well as the heightening tensions, the proliferation of counterspace technologies and the lack of transparency that permeates many space activities make the need to ensure space security a key priority for the international community.
Following the successful conclusion of the recent Group of Governmental Experts (GGE) on further practical measures for the prevention of an arms race in outer space (PAROS) and its adoption of a consensus report, the international community seeks to further work towards ensuring that space security is achieved. To that end, States and other stakeholders will gather in an upcoming Open-ended Working Group (OEWG) on the prevention of an arms race in outer space in all its aspects.
To contribute to the success of this Group, as well as other future initiatives, the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) invites representatives from all regional groups to participate in a Space Security Regional Briefing series. These five briefings —one for each of the five UN regional groups— will provide an overview of contemporary space security issues, as well as recent multilateral processes, providing a necessary background to understand the current state of the debate. Moreover, the briefings will provide insight into the upcoming OEWG, highlighting and providing insight into key concerns that the debates during the OEWG will seek to cover. The briefings seek to provide States from all regions with the foundations necessary to build a productive debate and foster the common understanding necessary to achieve effective and long-lasting measures to address space security concerns.
Agenda
- Overview of PAROS and space security
This part will briefly explore PAROS and space security in the multilateral context, presenting key initiatives and past proposals and highlighting the successes and failures of past efforts to address space security concerns, with an eye to encourage the success of future initiatives. - Recap of the GGE on further practical measures for PAROS
This part will focus on the recently concluded GGE on further practical measures for PAROS, delving into the recommendations presented in its consensus report and exploring what led to its success and how it could be best replicated by States and other stakeholders for the success of future processes and the furtherance of space security.
- Expectations for the OEWG, key issues and tools to support common understanding
This part will cover what is known so far about the upcoming OEWG on the prevention of an arms race in outer space in all its aspects. It will explore its mandate, as well as how State representatives may meaningfully participate and contribute to the process. Moreover, this part will also look at the substantive issues that States are (i) likely to focus on in this new process and (ii) available tools that may serve to build the necessary common understanding to achieve success, and which may provide the necessary background knowledge for States to take part in the process through meaningful debate and contributions. - Audience Q&A
Where and when
The Briefings will be held online via Zoom. Below are the dates and times for each regional group:
- African Group 2 December 13:00-14:00 CET – Register here.
- Asia-Pacific Group 3 December 10:00-11:00 CET – Register here.
- Eastern European Group 4 December 13:00-14:00 CET – Register here.
- Latin American and Caribbean Group 5 December 15:00-16:00 CET – Register here.
- Western European and Others Group 6 December 13:00-14:00 CET – Register here.
Please check your local time on this website.
Participation
UNIDIR invites representatives from all regional groups, including delegates from Permanent Missions in Geneva, New York and Vienna, as well as experts from national capitals, regional organizations and other entities interested in space security.