Secure World Foundation Public Statements and Testimony

Statements to United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UN COPUOS)

Statement under Agenda Item 13, Future role and method of work of the Committee, Sixty-Sixth Session of the United Nations, Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, Vienna, Austria, May-June 2023. Statement delivered by Christopher Johnson.

Statement under Agenda Item 4, General exchange of views, 66th Session of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, Vienna, Austria, May-June 2023. Statement delivered by Christopher Johnson.

Statement under Agenda Item 10, General Exchange of Views on Potential Legal Models for Activities in the Exploration, Exploitation and Utilization of Space Resources, 62nd Session of the Legal Subcommittee of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, virtual, March 2023. Statement delivered by Christopher Johnson.

Statement under Agenda Item 4, General Information on the Activities of International Intergovernmental and Non-governmental Organizations Relating to Space Law, 62nd Session of the Legal Subcommittee of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, virtual, March 2023. Statement delivered by Christopher Johnson.

Statement under Agenda Item 3, General Exchange of Views, 60th Session of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee, United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space,  Vienna, Austria, February 2023. Statement delivered by Dr. Brian Weeden.

Statement under Agenda Item 15, Space Exploration and Innovation, 65th Session of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, Vienna Austria, June 2022. Statement delivered by Ian Christensen.

Statement under Agenda Item 15, General Exchange of Views on Potential Legal Models for Activities in the Exploration, Exploitation and Utilization of Space Resources, 61st Session of the Legal Subcommittee of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, virtual, March 2022. Statement delivered by Christopher Johnson.

SWF Statement Under Agenda Item 6, Status and Application of the Five UN Treaties on Outer Space, 61st Session of the Legal Subcommittee of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, Vienna, virtual, March 2022. Statement delivered by Ian Christensen. | Video

SWF Statement Under Agenda Item 5, Information on the Activities of International Intergovernmental and Non-governmental Organizations Relating to Space Law, 6`1st Session of the Legal Subcommittee of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, virtual, March 2022. Statement delivered by Ian Christensen.

SWF Statement on Orbital Debris, 59th Session of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee, United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, virtual, February 2022. Statement delivered by Dr. Brian Weeden.

SWF Statement Under Agenda Item 4, General Exchange of Views, 59th Session of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee, United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, virtual, February 2022. Statement delivered by Dr. Brian Weeden.

SWF Statement Under Agenda Item 4, Exchange of Views, 58th Session of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, virtual, April 2021.

SWF Statement Under Agenda Item 4, General Exchange of Views, 62nd session of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, June 2019, Vienna, Austria.  Statement delivered by Dr Peter Martinez in his capacity as former Chair of the Working Group on the Long-Term Sustainability of Outer Space Activities.

SWF Statement Under Agenda Item 5, General Exchange of Views Statement on Activities of International Intergovernmental and Non-Governmental Organizations Relating to Space Law, 58th Session of the Legal Subcommittee of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, April 2019, Vienna, Austria.

SWF Statement Under Agenda Item 4, Statement on Potential Legal Models for Activities in Exploration, Exploitation and Utilization of Space Resources, 58th Session of the Legal Subcommittee of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, April 2019, Vienna, Austria.

SWF General Exchange of Views Statement, Update on the activities of the Foundation, 56th Session of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee, United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, February 2019, Vienna, Austria.

SWF Statement on Space Legislation and Frameworks, General Exchange of Views, 61st Plenary Session of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, June 2018, Vienna, Austria.

SWF Exchange of Views Statement, Update on the activities of the Foundation, 57th Session of the Legal Subcommittee of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, April 2018, Vienna, Austria.

SWF Exchange of Views Statement, Update on the activities of the Foundation, 55th Session of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee, January 2018, Vienna, Austria.

SWF Exchange of Views Statement, General Exchange of Views, 60th Plenary Session of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, June 2017, Vienna, Austria.

Statement Under Agenda Item 8, Handbook for New Actors in Space, 60th Plenary Session of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, June 2017, Vienna, Austria.

Statement Under Agenda Item 4, Activities of International Intergovernmental and Non-Governmental Organizations Relating to Space Law, 56th Session of the Legal Subcommittee of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, March 2017, Vienna, Austria.

Statement Under Agenda Item 8, Capacity-Building in Space Law, 56th Session of the Legal Subcommittee of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, March 2017, Vienna, Austria.

Statement Under Agenda Item 14, Potential Legal Models for Activities in Exploration, Exploitation and Utilization of Space Resources, 56th Session of the Legal Subcommittee of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, March 2017, Vienna, Austria.

SWF Exchange of Views Statement, 54th Session of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, February 2017, Vienna, Austria.

SWF Exchange of Views Statement, Long-Term Sustainability and the SWF Handbook for New Actors in Space, 54th Session of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, February 2017, Vienna, Austria.

SWF Exchange of Views Statement, Intentions and Actions for the Coming Year, General Exchange of Views, 59th Plenary Session of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, June 2016, Vienna, Austria.

SWF Exchange of Views Statement, Update on Activities of the Foundation, 53rd Session of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, February 2016.

SWF Exchange of Views Statement, Update on the activities of the Foundation, 58th Plenary Session of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, June 2015, Vienna, Austria.

Statement Under Agenda Item 3, General Exchange of Views, 54th Session of the Legal Subcommittee of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, April 2015, Vienna, Austria.

Statement Under Agenda Item 3, Announcing the Handbook for New Actors, General Exchange of Views, 54th Session of the Legal Subcommittee of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, April 2015, Vienna, Austria.

SWF Exchange of Views Statement, Announcing the Handbook for New Actors, 52nd Session of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee, United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, February 2015, Vienna, Austria.

SWF Exchange of Views Statement, Update on Activities of the Foundation, 52nd Session of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee, United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, February 2015, Vienna, Austria.

SWF Exchange of Views Statement, 57th Plenary Session of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, June 2014, Vienna, Austria.

SWF Exchange of Views Statement, Update on Activities of the Foundation, 51st Session of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee, United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, February 2014, Vienna, Austria.

Statement Under Agenda Item 13, Long-Term Sustainability of Space Activities, 51st Session of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee, United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, February 2014, Vienna, Austria.

SWF Exchange of Views Statement, Update on Activities of the Foundation, 56th Plenary Session of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, June 2013, Vienna, Austria.

SWF Exchange of Views Statement, Update on Activities of the Foundation, 50th Session of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee, United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, February 2013, Vienna, Austria.

SWF Exchange of Views Statement, Update on Activities of the Foundation, 55th Plenary Session of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, June 2012, Vienna, Austria.

SWF Exchange of Views Statement, Update on Activities of the Foundation, 49th Session of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee, United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, February 2012, Vienna, Austria.

Exchange of Views Statement, Update on Activities of the Foundation, 54th Plenary Session of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, June 2011, Vienna, Austria.

Exchange of Views Statement, Update on Activities of the Foundation, 50th Session of the Legal Subcommittee of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, April 2011, Vienna, Austria.

Exchange of Views Statement, Update on Activities of the Foundation, 48th Session of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee, United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, February 2011, Vienna, Austria.

Exchange of Views Statement, 53rd Plenary Session of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, June 2010, Vienna, Austria

Statement Under Agenda Item 6, Status and Application of the five United Nations treaties on Outer Space, 49th Session of the Legal Subcommittee of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, March 2010, Vienna, Austria.

SWF Exchange of Views Statement, Update on Activities of the Foundation, 47th Session of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee, United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, February 2010, Vienna, Austria. 

SWF Exchange of Views Statement, Update on Activities of the Foundation, 52nd Plenary Session of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, June 2009, Vienna, Austria.

Public Comments and Testimony to the U.S. Congress

Testimony given by Dr. Brian Weeden before the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission hearing on "Rule by Law: China’s Increasingly Global Legal Reach," Washington, D.C., May 4, 2023. (video)

Testimony given by Dr. Brian Weeden before the US. House Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics on "Space Situational Awareness: Key Issues In An Evolving Landscape," Washington, D.C., February 11, 2020. (video)

Testimony given by Dr. Brian Weeden before the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission hearing on “China in Space: A Strategic Competition?” Washington, D.C., April 25, 2019. (video)

Letter for the record from Mr. Christopher Johnson and Mr. Ian Christensen for the hearing on "Reopening the American Frontier: Exploring How the Outer Space Treaty Will Impact American Commerce and Settlement in Space," Washington, D.C., May 22, 2017. (video)

Letter for the record from Dr. Brian Weeden and Mr. Ian Christensen regarding the hearing on "Regulating Space: Innovation, Liberty, and International Obligations," Washington, D.C., March 17, 2017. (video)

Testimony given by Dr. Brian Weeden before the U.S. House Committee on Science, Space and Technology Subcommittee on Space Hearing on "Space Traffic Management: How to Prevent a Real-Life 'Gravity,'" Washington, D.C., May 9, 2014. (video)

Testimony given by Dr. Ray Williamson before the U.S. House Committee on Science and Technology
Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics Hearing on "The Growth of Global Space Capabilities: What's Happening and Why It Matters," Washington, D.C., November 19, 2009. (video)

Testimony given by Dr. Ray Williamson before the U.S. House Committee on Science and Technology, Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics, hearing on "Keeping the Space Environment Safe for Civil and Commercial Users," Washington, D.C., April 28, 2008. (video)

Other Statements

Statement to the Open-Ended Working Group on Reducing Space Threats Through Norms, Rules, and Principles of Responsible Behaviours, Geneva, Switzerland, Feb 3, 2023.

Statement to the Open-ended Working Group on Reducing Space Threats Through Norms, Rules and Principles of Responsible Behaviours, Geneva, Switzerland, May 12, 2022

Working Paper Submitted by the Secure World Foundation, Group of Governmental Experts on Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space, UN, Geneva, Switzerland, March 2019

Remarks delivered by Dr. Peter Martinez, Group of Governmental Experts on Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space, UN, New York, New York, February 2019

Welcoming Remarks given by Dr. Michael Simpson, UN/UAE High Level Forum, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, November 2016.

Statement on Space Assets and the Sustainable Development Goals, UN/UAE High Level Forum, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, November 2016.

Statement on Space Economic Value and Benefit, UN/UAE High Level Forum, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, November 2016.

Statement on Small Satellite Technology and Space Capability, UN/UAE High Level Forum, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, November 2016.

Statement on Perspectives of Space Situational Awareness, UN/UAE High Level Forum, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, November 2016.

Statement before the UN during multilateral negotiations on the International Code of Conduct for Outer Space Activities, New York, NY, July 29, 2015.

Welcome speech given by Dr. Brian Weeden to open the third annual International Association for the Advancement of Space Safety Conference, Rome, Italy, October 21, 2008.

Last updated on June 15, 2023

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