Reducing Space Threats Through Norms, Rules and Principles of Responsible Behaviours

Who created this mandate?

A Resolution of the General Assembly, under agenda item 96dReducing space threats through norms, rules and principles of responsible behaviours, published in 2024.

What other versions does this mandate have?

4 versions · 2020–2024

2024A/RES/79/22Reducing space threats through norms, rules and principles of responsible behavioursLatestCompare with previous version
2023A/RES/78/20Reducing space threats through norms, rules and principles of responsible behavioursCompare with previous version
2021A/RES/76/231Reducing space threats through norms, rules and principles of responsible behavioursCompare with previous version
2020A/RES/75/36Reducing space threats through norms, rules and principles of responsible behaviours

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

What subjects does this mandate have?

5 topics

International Security Outer Space Space Exploration Space Objects Working Groups

What does this mandate say?

6 operative paragraphs

Reaffirms that all States must conduct their activities in the exploration and use of outer space, including the Moon and other celestial bodies, in conformity with international law, including the Charter of the United Nations, urges Member States to ensure that their space policies comply with their obligations, and encourages those States that have not yet become parties to the international treaties governing the exploration and use of outer space to give consideration to ratifying or acceding to them in accordance with their national law;

Welcomes the deliberations held in 2022 and 2023 by the open-ended working group on reducing space threats through norms, rules and principles of responsible behaviours established by the General Assembly in its resolution 76/231, which, together with the working papers and presentations submitted to the Assembly, constitute an important contribution to outer space security and the prevention of an arms race in outer space;

Encourages all States to give further consideration to norms, rules and principles of responsible behaviours, including but not limited to the areas of intentional damage to and destruction of space systems, threats to the safe operation of space objects, rendezvous operations and proximity operations that could increase the risk of misunderstanding and miscalculation, and protecting critical space-based services to civilians as well as services that support humanitarian operations, and associated measures on capacity-building, space situational awareness and inter-State coordination and consultation, that could contribute to the prevention of an arms race in outer space;

Also encourages all States to give further consideration to how the implementation of norms, rules and principles of responsible behaviours could be monitored and verified, including through the provision of capacity-building, cooperation on space situational awareness and the possible establishment of a mechanism for inter-State coordination and consultation on matters pertaining to space activity, and how they would contribute to the negotiation of legally binding instruments, including on the prevention of an arms race in outer space;

Welcomes the discussions held by the Group of Governmental Experts on Further Practical Measures for the Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space, established pursuant to General Assembly resolution 77/250 of 30 December 2022, takes note of the Group’s conclusions and recommendations, and affirms that the Group’s recommendation for further consideration of measures on the prevention of an arms race in outer space should include efforts to develop norms, rules and principles of responsible space behaviours;

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 “Reducing space threats through norms, rules and principles of responsible behaviours”.

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What does this mandate say?

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