A/RES/79/22 GA

United Nations A/RES/79/22 General Assembly Distr.: General 9 December 2024 24-23021 (E) *2423021* Seventy-ninth session Agenda item 96 (d) Prevention of an arms race in outer space: reducing space threats through norms, rules and principles of responsible behaviours Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 2 December 2024 [on the report of the First Committee (A/79/406, para. 20)] 79/22. Reducing space threats through norms, rules and principles of responsible behaviours The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 75/36 of 7 December 2020, 76/231 of 24 December 2021, 78/20 of 4 December 2023 and 78/238 of 22 December 2023, Reaffirming the applicability of international law, including the Charter of the United Nations, to outer space activities and the right of all States to explore and use outer space without discrimination of any kind, on a basis of equality and in accordance with such law, and emphasizing the importance of full compliance with such law, Reaffirming also 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 and the obligations therein to explore and use outer space for the benefit and in the interests of all countries, to be guided by the principle of cooperation and mutual assistance and to conduct all activities in outer space with due regard for the corresponding interests of all States parties to the Treaty, Emphasizing the need to maintain outer space as a peaceful, safe, stable, secure and sustainable environment for the benefit of all and the significant contribution of outer space activities to social, economic, scientific and technological development, as well as to international peace and security, Urging all States, when developing, planning and executing their space activities, to remain committed to the peaceful exploration and use of outer space and to refrain from conducting activities contrary to their obligations under international __________________ 1 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 610, No. 8843. A/RES/79/22 Reducing space threats through norms, rules and principles of responsible behaviours 24-23021 2/4 law, including those that could threaten the ability of all States to freely use and explore outer space, now and in the future, Seriously concerned about the possibility of an arms race in outer space, and reaffirming that the prevention of an arms race in outer space in all its aspects would avert a grave danger for international peace and security, as well as being an essential condition for the promotion and strengthening of international cooperation in the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes, Stressing that the deliberate destruction of space systems increases the amount of long-lived orbital debris, the risk of in-orbit collisions and the potential for misunderstanding and miscalculations that could lead to conflict, and welcoming the commitment of many States not to conduct destructive direct-ascent anti-satellite missile tests, Noting the rapid advances of technologies in space systems, the uses of which are diverse and could have positive or negative effects on international security, and encouraging further discussion among States of the impact of these developments, Recognizing the need for States to seek to avoid and mitigate the potential impact on peace and security arising from accidents, miscommunication or a lack of transparency, which could lead to miscalculations and the escalation of tensions and contribute to an arms race, Acknowledging the importance of space systems in the provision of services critical to civilians, and concerned at the risk of harm arising from threats to these systems, Recalling paragraph 80 of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly,2 in which it is stated that, in order to prevent an arms race in outer space, further measures should be taken and appropriate international negotiations held in accordance with the spirit 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, Convinced that possible solutions to outer space security, including norms, rules and principles of responsible behaviours, can involve a combination of legally binding obligations and political commitments and that work in both of these areas can be further pursued in a progressive, sustained and complementary manner, without undermining existing legal obligations, Recognizing that efforts to prevent an arms race and to prevent conflict from beginning in or extending into outer space must include consideration of the use of all potential technologies and means, whether on Earth or in outer space, Noting that efforts and approaches to elaborate measures on the prevention of an arms race in outer space, including on capabilities, activities and behaviours, should continue to take into account the evolving space activities and threats, Reiterating the common objective of preventing an arms race in outer space in all its aspects and the consequent need for all States to work together to reduce threats to space systems through the further development and implementation of norms, rules and principles of responsible behaviours, including an appropriate combination of both political commitments and legally binding instruments, with the aim of preventing an arms race in outer space in all its aspects and of maintaining a peaceful, safe, stable, secure and sustainable outer space environment, __________________ 2 Resolution S-10/2. Reducing space threats through norms, rules and principles of responsible behaviours A/RES/79/22 3/4 24-23021 Reaffirming that verification is one of the essential components of legally binding arms control instruments, and encouraging further consideration of effective verification regarding space systems, Recalling the primary role of the Conference on Disarmament on questions relating to the prevention of an arms race in outer space in all its aspects, including the weaponization of outer space and threats from capabilities on Earth, and the relevant responsibilities of the First Committee of the General Assembly and the Disarmament Commission, Welcoming the ongoing work by the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space on the implementation of the 21 Guidelines for the Long-term Sustainability of Outer Space Activities,3 which may have a positive effect on international peace and security, Welcoming also the recommendations to promote the practical implementation of transparency and confidence-building measures in outer space with the goal of preventing an arms race in outer space in accordance with the recommendations set out in the report of the Group of Governmental Experts on Transparency and Confidence- Building Measures in Outer Space Activities adopted by the Disarmament Commission at its substantive session of 2023,4 Recognizing the importance of the full, equal, meaningful and effective participation of women and men in discussions on reducing space threats through responsible behaviours and the need to address the possible differentiated impacts of such threats, 1. 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; 2. 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; 3. 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; 4. 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, __________________ 3 Official Records of the General Assembly, Seventy-fourth Session, Supplement No. 20 (A/74/20), annex II. 4 Ibid., Seventy-eighth Session, Supplement No. 42 (A/78/42), annex. A/RES/79/22 Reducing space threats through norms, rules and principles of responsible behaviours 24-23021 4/4 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; 5. 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, 5 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; 6. 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”. 43rd plenary meeting 2 December 2024 __________________ 5 See A/79/364.

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