Events

Outer Space Security Conference 2022

Outer Space Security Conference 2022

Space is increasingly critical to modern life on Earth. But there is growing concern that, as it becomes more economically and strategically important, it could become a theatre for conflict. Aware of this danger, the international community has attempted to address these concerns through various arms control, disarmament and governance proposals.

To explore these issues further, the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) is pleased to invite you to the 2022 Space Security Conference. This two-day flagship event provides a unique forum for the Geneva-based diplomatic community —as well as visiting experts from military, industry and academic backgrounds— to discuss the particularities of the space domain and consider policy options to enhance space security.

WHERE

This event will be held in-person, Room XXII of the Palais des Nations, Geneva. It will also be livestreamed, with the possibility of interactive participation. 

WHEN

1 and 2 November 2022, 10:00-18:00 (CET).

AGENDA

An updated list of speakers will be made available here in due course.

DAY 1 – Understanding outer space and outer space security

10.00-10.30 CET - Morning Refreshments

10.30 - 11.00 CET - Conference Opening. Welcoming remarks

• Robin Geiss, Director, UNIDIR

Keynote address

Building common understanding: the road to space security

Speaker: Izumi Nakamitsu, High Representative for Disarmament Affairs

11.00 - 12.30 CET - Panel I — How to make space security work: understanding the space domain and space systems

Space has several unique characteristics that make the application of traditional arms controls and disarmament tools difficult. This panel will explore the physics of the outer space environment, different orbital regimes and their uses. Furthermore, it will also look at the nature of space systems and their component, functions, operators and users. Panellists will address these topics from a technical perspective and also look at how these technical characteristics condition the application of international law and wider governance tools to the space domain.

Panelists: 

• Hellmut Lagos, Chair of the UN OEWG on Reducing Space Threats through Norms, Rules and Principles of Responsible Behaviours

• Hui Du, China Academy of Space Technology

• Regina Peldszus, Space Policy Officer, European External Action Service

• Joanne Wheeler, Managing Partner, Alden Legal Limited

Moderator: 

• Almudena Azcárate Ortega, Associate Researcher, Space Security and WMD Programmes, UNIDIR

12.30 - 13.30 CET - Lunch Break

13.30 - 15.00 CET - Panel II — How can space security be achieved: past, present, future efforts and practical measures for PAROS

Over the years, many different mechanisms and processes have been proposed to address space security concerns and to achieve the goals of PAROS. This panel will look at the past and present initiatives that States have undertaken to address space security concerns, and to consider what lessons can be learned for the future. Attention will be paid to initiatives including, the draft treaty on the Prevention of the Placement of Weapons in Outer Space and of the Threat or Use of Force Against Outer Space Objects, the draft International Code of Conduct for outer space activities, the Hague Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missile Proliferation, the groups of governmental experts on TCBMs in outer space activities and on advancing a legally binding mechanism for PAROS, as well as the most recent open-ended working group on reducing threats through norms, rules and principles of responsible behaviours.

Panelists:

• Andrey Belousov, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation in Geneva

• Guilherme de Aguiar Patriota, Amb. of Brazil, Consul General in Tokyo & former Chair of the GGE on PAROS

• Ji Zhaoyu, Counsellor (Disarmament), Permanent Mission of the People's Republic of China to the United Nations Office at Geneva

• Xavier Pasco, Director, Fondation pour la recherche stratégique

• Jessica West, Senior Researcher, Project Ploughshares

Moderator:

• Cécile Aptel, Deputy Director, UNIDIR

15.00-15.30 CET - Coffee Break

15.30 - 17.00 CET - Panel III — Why is space security not just in space: the intersection between outer space and other domains

Space is often thought of as an isolated domain, separate and different from other domains. And while there are some characteristics that make it unique, it is nevertheless very closely interconnected with to domains on Earth and the technologies and systems that operate therein. This panel will explore these cross-domain relationships and how they can impact the escalation of tensions among stakeholders. 

Panelists:

• Beyza Unal, Head, Science and Technology Unit, UNODA

• Eric Desautels, Acting deputy assistant secretary for arms control, verification and compliance, United States State Department

• Sabrina Alam, Senior Specialist, Space Sustainability and ESG Programme Manager

• James Black, European Lead, Space Enterprise Initiative, RAND Europe

• Elina Mozorova, Executive Director, Intersputnik International Organization of Space Communications

Moderator:

• Laetitia Cesari Zarkan, Consultant, Space Security & WMD Programmes, UNIDIR

DAY 2 – Crafting effective mechanisms for space security

10.00 - 10.30 CET - Morning Refreshments

10.30 - 12.00 CET - Panel IV — What threatens space security: space systems and the threat vectors 

Space security is endangered by a wide array of threats. These can take the form of space to space threats, space to ground threats, ground to space threats and even ground to ground threats to supporting space infrastructure. This panel will explore these threats and the form that they can take (kinetic physical, non-kinetic physical, electronic, cyber, etc.) in order to attempt to determine how best to mitigate and prevent them.

Panelists:

• Aidan Liddle, Ambassador and Permanent Representative, United Kingdom Delegation to the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva

• Raji Rajagopalan, Director, Centre for Security, Strategy & Technology at the Observer Research Foundation

• Cassandra Steer, Deputy Director, Australian National University Institute for Space

• Guoyu Wang, Dean, Academy of Air, Space Policy and Law

Moderator:

• Victoria Samson, Washington Office Director, Secure World Foundation

12.00 - 13.00 CET - Lunch Break 

13.00 - 14.30 CET - Panel V — Who can achieve space security: the need for diversity to reach PAROS

Access to outer space is no longer limited to a select number of States. Not only is space increasingly important to humankind, but there is also an increasing number of stakeholders and actors, with a vested interest to keeping space peaceful and secure. Regional perspectives, multi-stakeholder participation, and a gender inclusive approach are therefore more important than ever. This panel will analyse how these factors are all necessary to achieve the goals of PAROS.

Panelists:

• Anuradha Damale, Policy Fellow and Programme Manager, BASIC

• Benjamin Silverstein, Research Analyst, Space Project, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

• Nivedita Raju, Researcher, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute

• Kim Macharia, Executive Director, Space Prize

• María Antonieta Socorro Jáquez Huacuja, Minister Counsellor, Permanent Mission of Mexico to the United Nations

Moderator:

• Patricia Lewis, Director, International Security Programme, Chatham House

14.30 - 15.00 CET - Coffee Break

15.00 - 16.30 CET - Panel VI — What is space security: striving towards common understanding 

Lack of common understanding, miscommunication and limitations in transparency can heighten tensions in a dangerous manner that, if unchecked, could lead to conflict. This panel will explore the importance of these elements and the areas where common understanding is most urgently needed, and it will also discuss the mechanisms (both technical and in terms of policy) that can be implemented in efforts to build space security.

Panelists:

• Aya Iwamoto, Director, Japan Space Policy, Astroscale Japan

• Bleddyn Bowen, Associate Professor of International Relations, University of Leicester

• JJ Domingo, Political-Security Officer, Philippines Mission to the U.N. in Geneva

• Rene Holbach, Political Affairs Officer, Science, Technology and International Security Unit, UNODA

• Sergey Belousko, Head of Division, Department for Nonproliferation and Arms Control, MFA

Moderator:

• James Revill, Head of Programme, Weapons of Mass Destruction, UNIDIR

16.30 - 17.00 CET - Concluding Remarks 

• Robin Geiss, Director, UNIDIR

PARTICIPANTS

UNIDIR encourages the participation of diplomats, national representatives, policymakers, as well as academics, practitioners and other experts working on or interested in issues pertaining to space security.

RSVP

Participants can join the event either in-person or virtually:

• To participate in-person, please register through the United Nations INDICO system here.

• To participate virtually, please register through Eventbrite here. The link to access the broadcast of OS22 will be emailed to registered participants one day prior to the event.

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UNIDIR has organised OS22 in cooperation the Secure World Foundation, a Washington-based think-tank and the Paris-based Fondation pour la Recherche Stratégique. 

Support from UNIDIR’s core funders provides the foundation for all of the Institute’s activities. This event was organised with financial and organisational support from the Governments of the United Kingdom, the Russian Federation, the People’s Republic of China and United States of America as well as the Fondation pour la Recherche Stratégique (with the financial support of the European Union).