UNIDIR, in partnership with the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI), launched a youth campaign to give the younger generation and future leaders a platform to participate actively in the Outer Space Security Conference 2024 (OS24).
Young people aged 18-25 from across the globe were invited to submit short videos answering the question: “Why does space security matter to you? – Keeping outer space secure and sustainable”.
The Outer Space Treaty, the pillar of space law, states that space activities are to be carried out for the benefit and the interests of all countries, irrespective of economic and scientific development. This principle emphasizes inclusion and diverse representation. Through this competition, UNIDIR and CIGI aimed to promote the inclusion of young people in space security discussions, highlight diverse perspectives on the importance of maintaining a secure and sustainable outer space and engage young minds in multilateral space security efforts.
Amplifying youth voices
The youth campaign consisted of a video competition that generated great interest and received a diverse range of submissions from young people around the world. Participants shared insightful perspectives on space security, reflecting diverse cultural, academic and technical backgrounds. The creativity and fresh perspectives brought forward by the applicants served to underscore the importance of involving the next generation in shaping the future of outer space governance.
Announcing the video competition winners
UNIDIR is pleased to share the videos from our three winners, whose work was recognized for its insight, creativity and relevance to the theme. These winners were invited to attend the Outer Space Security Conference 2024 in-person, with a fully funded trip to Geneva, Switzerland.
Prajnaa Bangalore Mahaveer Jain, Juris Doctorate Candidate, University of Windsor Faculty of Law, Canada
Prajnaa is a Juris Doctorate Candidate at the University of Windsor Faculty of Law. She was honoured to be selected as the Chair of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee where she represented over 600 residents. Prajnaa balanced her public service as a Justice Education Fellow and interests in emerging technology as a Researcher at the Law and Technology Lab. Currently, she is a Researcher at the Black Scholars Institute. Prajnaa previously completed her Bachelor’s at American University in Washington D.C. as part of the distinguished Global Scholars Programme.
O Junyoung, Double Major Student in Electronics and Avionics Engineering and Aerospace Engineering, Korea Aerospace University, South Korea
O Junyoung is pursuing a double major in Electronics and Avionics Engineering and Aerospace Engineering at the Korea Aerospace University. His passion for space was sparked by reading Carl Sagan’s Cosmos and deepened by his fascination with space exploration missions like Voyager. Observing the incredible history of the Saturn V rocket motivated him to pursue a career in this field. Currently, he is studying circuit design as part of his major. He enjoys reverse-engineering and maintaining retro arcade game components. He also has a blog in Korean about this. He aspires to design Field Programmable Gate Arrays and circuits for spacecraft and hopes to deepen his understanding of their limitations through a double major in Aerospace Engineering to enhance his designs.
José Ignacio Vieux, International Affairs Student, National University of Rosario, Argentina
José Ignacio Vieux is an International Affairs student at the National University of Rosario. A US Department of State Youth Ambassador alumnus, José has been involved in directing democracy programmes for NGOs and has served as an assistant professor in Comparative Politics. His research focuses on Argentina’s international positioning in the emerging space era.
From vision to reflection
As part of the youth campaign, winners had the unique opportunity to transform their perspectives into written commentaries, reflecting not only on their original ideas but also on their experiences engaging with the space security community in Geneva. These reflections allow them to further develop their thoughts on key challenges, governance approaches, and the role of emerging voices in space diplomacy.
The importance of space security for the Global South
As a youth participant at OS24, I witnessed firsthand the critical importance of amplifying the voices of emerging space nations, particularly those in the Global South. For young professionals like me, the future of space governance is not a distant abstract, it is the reality we will inherit and shape.
José Ignacio Vieux
Perspectives on space security from an engineering student
Through OS24 and the youth video competition experience, I had the opportunity to witness experts from around the world come together to discuss a common purpose and collaboratively shape the path forward.
O Junyoung
Expanding on their original ideas, José Ignacio Vieux and O Junyoung use these written reflections to further explore the challenges, opportunities, and governance considerations that shape the future of space security. Their insights reinforce the value of youth engagement in multilateral discussions, highlighting fresh approaches to ensuring space remains peaceful, sustainable, and secure for all.
An inclusive way forward
The OS24 youth campaign successfully highlighted the innovative ideas of passionate young minds worldwide. The contributions played a crucial role in bringing youth perspectives directly to the UN and enriching multilateral discussions on space security matters. UNIDIR will continue to work with the winners of the campaign, offering mentorship and additional opportunities so as to encourage inclusivity and the incorporation of innovative ideas that can contribute to advance space security discussions. UNIDIR remains committed to incorporating diverse perspectives in the pursuit of peace and will continue to provide a platform for all voices.