A/RES/79/21 GA

United Nations A/RES/79/21 General Assembly Distr.: General 9 December 2024 24-23019 (E) *2423019* Seventy-ninth session Agenda item 96 (c) Prevention of an arms race in outer space: further practical measures for the prevention of an arms race in outer space Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 2 December 2024 [on the report of the First Committee (A/79/406, para. 20)] 79/21. Further practical measures for the prevention of an arms race in outer space The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 71/31 and 71/32 of 5 December 2016, 71/90 of 6 December 2016, 72/250 of 24 December 2017, 73/6 of 26 October 2018, 73/91 of 7 December 2018, 74/34 of 12 December 2019, 76/230 of 24 December 2021, 77/250 of 30 December 2022 and 78/238 of 22 December 2023, and its decisions 73/512 of 5 December 2018 and 75/514 of 7 December 2020, as well as its other resolutions and decisions on this subject, Expressing grave alarm over the threat of an arms race in outer space, which would impair the prospects for limiting and reducing armaments in general and erect insurmountable barriers to international cooperation in the peaceful exploration of outer space, Recognizing the catastrophic consequences of an arms race in outer space, which should be used exclusively for peaceful and creative purposes, or any military conflicts in outer space and that the prevention of an arms race in outer space would avert a grave danger for international peace and security, Emphasizing the importance of article IV of the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies,1 Bearing in mind that all States, in particular those with major space capabilities, should contribute actively to the prevention of an arms race in outer space with a view to promoting and strengthening international cooperation in the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes, with the objective of shaping a community of shared future for humankind, __________________ 1 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 610, No. 8843. A/RES/79/21 Further practical measures for the prevention of an arms race in outer space 24-23019 2/4 Recognizing that, while the existing international treaties related to outer space and the legal regime provided for therein play a positive role in regulating outer space activities, they are unable to fully prevent an arms race in outer space, 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, and preserve outer space for peaceful purposes, and that there is a need to consolidate and reinforce this regime, Expressing serious concern over the plans declared by certain States that include placement of weapons, in particular strike combat systems, in outer space, the threat or use of force in outer space, from space against Earth and from Earth against objects in outer space and the use of outer space for combat operations, Convinced that further measures should be examined in the search for effective and verifiable bilateral and multilateral agreements in order to prevent an arms race in outer space and preserve outer space for peaceful purposes, Welcoming, in this regard, 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, introduced by China and the Russian Federation at the Conference on Disarmament in 2008,2 and the submission of its updated version in 2014, 3 Stressing the importance of the political statements made by a number of States 4 that they would not be the first to place weapons in outer space, Recognizing the primary role and responsibility of the Conference on Disarmament in the negotiation of a multilateral agreement or agreements on the prevention of an arms race in outer space, Taking into account the work done by the Group of Governmental Experts on Further Practical Measures for the Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space in 2018 and 2019 in the search for further practical measures for the prevention of an arms race in outer space, in particular in the course of future negotiations at the Conference on Disarmament on the international legally binding instrument in this regard, Welcoming the report of the Secretary-General,5 1. 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; 2. 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; 3. Calls upon all States, and above all those with major space capabilities, to this end: (a) 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; __________________ 2 See CD/1839. 3 See CD/1985. 4 Argentina, Armenia, Belarus, Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Comoros, Congo, Cuba, Ecuador, Guatemala, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Mali, Myanmar, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Russian Federation, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Togo, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) and Viet Nam. 5 A/77/80. Further practical measures for the prevention of an arms race in outer space A/RES/79/21 3/4 24-23019 (b) To seek through negotiations the early elaboration of appropriate reliably verifiable legally binding multilateral agreements; 4. 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; 5. 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; 6. 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; 7. 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; 8. Also welcomes the substantive report adopted by consensus by the Group of Governmental Experts,6 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; 9. 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; 10. 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; 11. 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; 12. 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; __________________ 6 A/79/364. A/RES/79/21 Further practical measures for the prevention of an arms race in outer space 24-23019 4/4 13. 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; 14. 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; 15. 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”. 43rd plenary meeting 2 December 2024

UN Project. “A/RES/79/21.” UN Project, https://un-project.org/votes/resolution/A-RES-79-21/. Accessed .

Copy citation