This article is written by Rohit Raj, a student currently pursuing B.A.LLB (Hons.) from Lloyd Law College. This is an exhaustive article which deals with the different resolutions adopted by the UN General Assembly relating to outer space.
Table of Contents
Introduction
“Earth may even be a village with several neighborhoods throughout a very huge universe.”
-Bokkos Garan
“You’re about to find out why there’s a need for passing resolutions for outer space.” The reason behind the adoption of the resolution by the United Nations General Assembly is mentioned in this article. This article is related to the various resolutions adopted by the United Nations General Assembly. The United Nations General Assembly adopted completely different resolutions associated with outer space to encounter any chaos and upcoming problems and thus lead to international cooperation for the peaceful use of outer space to tackle the matter of property development.
The United Nations General Assembly inspired member states to come forward and coordinate their effort in order to implement the United Nations General Assembly treaties on the Outer space.
Resolutions adopted by UN Assembly
The resolution was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on outer space in Resolution 2222 (XXI). It had been approved by the General assembly in 1966 and thought of as the foremost necessary and essential treaties adopted by the United Nations General Assembly. This resolution was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly which added a replacement provision for the governance of the activities of the various United Nations states and the exploration and use of outer space. This new provision was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in the year 1963 in Resolution 1962 (XVIII).
The 1967 Resolution on Principles was formed, governing the activities of states of the United Nations on exploration and use of outer space, including celestial bodies and for the peaceful use of outer space and for the introduction of law which regulate the activities on outer space, developing space law for all the States of UN with the help of International cooperation and mutual help in current scenario as well as in near future.
1963 Declaration of Legal Principles governing the activities of states in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space
This Declaration has been adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in its resolution 1962 (XVIII) of 13th December, 1963 and this declaration was adopted through the eighteenth Session of the United Nations General Assembly. Throughout this resolution, the United Nations General assembly felt encouraged by the good possibility of man’s entry into outer space and acknowledged the human race in exploration and use of outer space.
Afterward, the basic knowledge related to employment and exploration of outer space can profit the different countries and exploration will benefit humankind.
Recalling to resolution 100 (II) of 3rd November, 1947, that recalls information which is designed to prevent threat to the peace of outer space and consider that the said resolution is applicable and binding on outer space. And, declares some Principles by taking into thought its Resolution 1721 (XVI) of 20th December, 1961 and 1802 (XVII) of 14th December 1962, adopted unanimously by the various states members of the United Nations General assembly.
The aforementioned principles that were declared by the United Nations General Assembly once the adoption of Resolution 1721 (XVI) and 1802 (XVII) are mentioned as follows:
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The Exploration and Use of space ought to be tied to the favour of the human race and for his or her profit.
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All the space bodies associated with celestial bodies are free for exploration and use by all the states on an equal basis and in line with the law of nations and treaties.
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The activities of the UN states leads to exploration and use of space in line with the law of nations within the interest of maintaining international cooperation, peace and security.
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While exploration and use of space, the states are going to be guided by the Principle of Cooperation that every UN states should use and explore the outer space without harming the outer space and other UN states and mutually facilitate and jointly conduct their all activities with reference to space with due regards for the corresponding interest of different states.
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Each state that launches or procures any object in space, that state is internationally responsible for injury caused to a distant state and will be held liable for any harm caused to the other foreign states due to procurement of any object in space. If any test or any launching or any type of exploration is being done and any harm is caused to outer space because of it, then the country carrying out that activity will be held responsible.
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States, in the case of astronauts, render all facilities or help in the case of an accident, emergency landing on foreign territory and in case the astronaut conducts an emergency landing on foreign land, the astronaut should be safely returned by the foreign state.
1982 Principles governing Direct Broadcasting Satellites (DBS)
The General Assembly recalled its Resolution 2916 (XXVII) of September, 1972 for elaborating the principles that have been advised in earlier resolutions which govern the use of the Earth satellites by different UN States for the aim of International Direct Television Broadcasting. It recalled a different Resolution 3182 (XXVIII) of 18th December, 1973 and 3234 (XXIX) of 12th November, 1974 which is set to think about at its 37th session of the adoption of a draft which is set of principles governing the employment of Artificial Earth Satellite for International Direct Television Broadcasting by the States. The UN General Assembly members committee was created for the peaceful exploration and use of space and its legal commission to fit the directives issued by the Head committee with higher resolution.
The UN General Assembly considers that many experiments are done by the satellites and jointly a variety of direct broadcasting satellites were operational in several countries and it would soon be commercialized for the future use by all the countries.
UN General Assembly has taken into thought that the operation and use of International direct broadcasting satellites have positive as well as negative implications on all aspects i.e. Political, social, economic and cultural and have an overall and wider impact. They believe that the establishment and exploitation of International direct broadcasting satellites will surely result in higher negotiation and cooperation in this field and jointly strengthen the aim and principles of the Charter.
If we look at the aim and objective behind the 1982 Principles governing Direct Broadcasting Satellites then we can hold these activities that were estimated in the resolution. The resolution is adopted by the United Nations General Assembly to promote the free circulation and mutual exchange of knowledge in cultural and scientific fields and to facilitate academic, social and economic development and jointly enhance the standard of the lifestyle of individuals all over the world.
These activities were carried out to maintain and enhance the international relations and cooperation among all states and this all leads to international peace and security. Activities of direct broadcasting satellites help in imparting news and information all over the world which helps in better coordination with each other.
1986 Principles relating to Remote Sensing
This proposal has been adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in its resolution 41/65 of third December, 1986 for the remote sensing of the world from outer space. The United Nation General Assembly recalled its Resolutions 3234 (XXIX) of 12th November, 1974, which suggested that the legal commission of the Committee of Peaceful uses of Outer Space lead to jointly think about the implication of remote sensing of the world from space and will also jointly think about its Resolution 3388 (XXX) of 18th November 1975 and many different resolutions.
The United Nations General Assembly thinks about the report on the peaceful use of outer space and jointly thinks on the text of the draft that set forth the remote sensing of outer space. On the idea of special deliberation of its legal commission, the committee on Peaceful use of outer space supported the text of draft associated with remote sensing of Earth from the outer space and this all activities of remote sensing of Earth from outer space will definitely result in the strong and mutual international cooperation as per the idea of United Nations General assembly. On this belief, they adopted this proposal of remote sensing of Earth from outer space.
The Purpose behind the remote sensing of Earth from outer space is for the profit and interest of each and every country. Powerful relations no matter what the degree of diversion of economic, social, cultural and scientific & technological development. An issue arises in the mind of the many those who we inclined to outer space units talking about remote sensing continuously, then what it actually means?
‘Remote sensing’ means that the sensing of Earth’s surface from an area by the assistance of properties of magnetism waves emitted, mirrored by the detected object.
1992 Principles on the use of Nuclear Power Sources in Outer Space
This Proposal has been adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in its Resolution 47/68 of 14th Dec, 1992. The United Nations General assembly thinks about the report of the committee on the peaceful use of outer space and therefore the text of the principles relevant to the employment of atomic energy in outer space has been approved by the committee. Also, the UN General assembly accepted that for a few missions that are carried in outer space, nuclear power is most fitted for it or maybe essential for compactness, life long and different things jointly.
By this approval of use of atomic energy sources in outer space, General assembly accepted that it takes place to specialize in those applications which may take the properties of atomic energy and may be benefitted. Another factor that is the most essential factor that has been recognized by the United Nations General Assembly is that the employment of atomic energy sources in outer space should be supported by safety measures, risk analysis so as to cut or reduce the risk of being injured by the sources of the atomic energy employed in that outer space.
In the UN General Assembly, the members come together in order to ensure the safe and correct use of Atomic energy in outer space and lays down some principles.
At the end of the meeting of members of the United Nations the UN General Assembly adopted the principles which were discussed and laid down by the members of the general assembly which were relevant to the employment of atomic energy in outer space and those principles were mentioned below:
- Applicability of law
- Use of Terms
- Guidelines and criteria for safe use.
- Safety assessment
- Notification of re-entry
- Consultation
- Assistance to states
- Responsibility
- Liability and Compensation
- Settlement of Disputes
- Review and Revision.
1996 Declaration on International Co-operation in Outer Space
This has been adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in its Resolution 51/122 of 13th December, 1996. The General Assembly thought of the report of the committee on the peaceful uses of outer space on the work of its ordinal session and also the text of declaration on International Cooperation within the exploration and use of outer space for the profit and within the interest of all the states taking into thought the wants of developing countries.
Recall the provisions of the written agreement on the principles governing the states within the context of exploration and use of space. Additionally recollects the resolution associated with activities performed in space and considering the recommendations of the second UN conference on the exploration and peaceful use of space and also the activities performed on outer space should not harm it.
The proposal contains declarations on international cooperation and the United Nations General Assembly is convinced that there’s necessity and also the significance of strengthening international cooperation and economical and effective collaboration within the context of outer space. Facilitating provisions in order that it may be utilized in the interest of humankind and numerous states no matter what is the status of economic, social and cultural development.
Conclusion
The resolution adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on space is taken into account because it is the most innovative and essential resolution until now because it deals with the matter of outer space and issues connected with the safe use and exploration of outer space and this eventually leads to higher correlation and cooperation among the states and powerful international relations.
According to my view on the employment or use and exploration of outer space, it’s good to use and explore the space however it should be kept in view that no harm should be done to the space and with the help of technological and scientific tools, a much better use of outer space with the lowest risk of harm and deterioration and this definitely helps in developing a much better relation and enough chance to all the nations without any conflict and finally leads to the peaceful relation among all states of world and equal chances of exploration and use of outer space.
References
- General Assembly Adopts Resolution Encouraging Stronger International Cooperation for Peacefully Using Outer Space to Drive Sustainable Development, (2018) [online], Available at: https://www.un.org/press/en/2018/ga12083.doc.htm [Accessed 30th March, 2020].
- Outer Space, (2019) [online], Available at: https://www.un.org/disarmament/topics/outerspace/ [Accessed 30th March, 2020].
- United Nation Treaties and Principles on Outer Space and related General Assembly resolutions, [online], Available at: https://www.unoosa.org/pdf/publications/st_space_11rev2E.pdf [Accessed 30th March, 2020].
- United Nation Treaties and Principles on outer space and related General Assembly resolutions and other documents, [online], Available at: https://www.unoosa.org/pdf/publications/ST_SPACE_061Rev01E.pdf [ Accessed 30th March, 2020].
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