Advancing Space Security Through Norms, Rules, and Principles of Responsible Behavior

In recent years, outer space has become more economically and strategically important as human activities have become more dependent on space activities and technology. Thus there are growing concerns about events of catastrophic consequences if tensions between space actors mount.

The Open-ended Working Group on reducing space threats through norms, rules and principles of responsible behaviours was established by the United Nations General Assembly resolution 76/231 to address such concerns.

Upon the conclusion of the first meeting of the OEWG, held in Geneva from 9–13 May 2022, UNIDIR co-organized a virtual conference on 23–24 May with the Republic of Korea and the Secure World Foundation to foster dialogue towards a common understanding on responsible behaviours within countries from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

The conference gathered participants from countries across the entire ASEAN region and heard from diverse stakeholders representing industry, government, civil society, and academia. The conference was convened under the Chatham House Rule where “participants are free to use the information received, but neither the identity nor the affiliation of the speaker(s), nor that of any other participant, may be revealed”.

This document summarizes the key discussions and takeaways of that conference.