Further Practical Measures for the Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space

Who created this mandate?

A Resolution of the General Assembly, under agenda item 96cFurther practical measures for the prevention of an arms race in outer space, published in 2024.

What other versions does this mandate have?

2 versions · 2023–2024

2024A/RES/79/21Further practical measures for the prevention of an arms race in outer spaceLatestCompare with previous version
2023A/RES/78/238Further practical measures for the prevention of an arms race in outer space

Versions are identified automatically by matching titles within the same organ (~97% accuracy on a manual audit).

What subjects does this mandate have?

4 topics

Arms Race Disarmament Agreements Groups of Experts Outer Space

What does this mandate say?

17 operative paragraphs

Proclaims it a historic responsibility of all States to ensure that the exploration of outer space is carried out exclusively for peaceful purposes for the benefit of mankind;

Declares that the exclusion of outer space from the sphere of the arms race and the preservation of outer space for peaceful purposes should become a mandatory norm of State policy and a generally recognized international obligation;

Calls upon all States, and above all those with major space capabilities, to this end:

To take urgent measures to prevent for all time the placement of weapons in outer space and the threat or use of force in outer space, from space against Earth and from Earth against objects in outer space;

To seek through negotiations the early elaboration of appropriate reliably verifiable legally binding multilateral agreements;

Expresses its deep regret over the years of stalemate in the work of the Conference on Disarmament, and looks forward to the Conference again fulfilling its mandate as the single multilateral disarmament negotiating forum;

Urges the Conference on Disarmament to agree on and implement at its earliest opportunity a balanced and comprehensive programme of work that includes the immediate commencement of negotiations on an international legally binding instrument on the prevention of an arms race in outer space, including on the prevention of the placement of weapons in outer space and of the threat or use of force in outer space, from space against Earth and from Earth against objects in outer space;

Acknowledges that the guaranteed prevention of an arms race in outer space will provide an opportunity for the peaceful exploration of outer space and its use in solving acute major problems relating to economic, social and cultural development facing mankind today, as well as in consolidating the efforts of States of the world in this domain;

Welcomes the work of the Group of Governmental Experts established pursuant to resolution 77/250, entitled “Further practical measures for the prevention of an arms race in outer space”, which was tasked with considering and making recommendations on substantial elements of an international legally binding instrument on the prevention of an arms race in outer space, including, inter alia, on the prevention of the placement of weapons in outer space, and emphasizes that the work of the Group of Governmental Experts has constituted an important contribution to international efforts to conclude the international legally binding instrument, as well as to outer space security and the prevention of an arms race in outer space;

Also welcomes the substantive report adopted by consensus by the Group of Governmental Experts, which could serve as a reference document for further measures and appropriate international negotiations on an international legally binding instrument on the prevention of an arms race in outer space, including, inter alia, on the prevention of the placement of weapons in outer space;

Requests the Secretary-General to transmit the report of the Group of Governmental Experts to the Conference on Disarmament prior to its 2025 session, the Disarmament Commission and the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space for consideration and use in their work in accordance with their competence;

Also requests the Secretary-General to circulate the report of the Group of Governmental Experts to all other relevant entities and organizations of the United Nations system and make it available to all Member States, the Conference on Disarmament, any body or process established pursuant to a decision of the General Assembly and the public in order that they may assist in implementing the considerations, conclusions and recommendations contained therein, as appropriate;

Recommends that Member States fully examine the report of the Group of Governmental Experts and consider its contents in any future deliberations or negotiations on the prevention of an arms race in outer space;

Encourages relevant entities and organizations of the United Nations system to coordinate, as appropriate, on matters related to the considerations, conclusions and recommendations contained in the report;

Recommends further consideration of substantial elements of an international legally binding instrument on the prevention of an arms race in outer space, including, inter alia, on the prevention of the placement of weapons in outer space;

Welcomes the establishment for the period 2024–2028 of an open-ended working group which is tasked to continue, building on the work of the Group of Governmental Experts to consider and to make recommendations on substantial elements of an international legally binding instrument on the prevention of an arms race in outer space, including, inter alia, on the prevention of the placement of weapons in outer space, as well as to consider various aspects of the prevention of an arms race in outer space in the context of an international legally binding instrument on the prevention of an arms race in outer space;

Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its eightieth session, under the item entitled “Prevention of an arms race in outer space”, the sub-item entitled “Further practical measures for the prevention of an arms race in outer space”.

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