SWF Statement – UN COPUOS LSC, Agenda Item 4: NGO Activities in Space Law and Governance (March 2017)

This statement presents Secure World Foundation’s contributions to space law and governance over the preceding year, emphasizing its support for capacity building, youth engagement, and multilateral dialogue. Key activities include:

• Support for Young Professionals: SWF supported the 2016 IAC, Space Generation Congress, and Manfred Lachs Moot Court in Guadalajara, Mexico. It funded travel scholarships for young professionals from eight countries to present on space law and sustainability.
• LTS Guideline Implementation: SWF co-organized a U.S. State Department event recognizing COPUOS's first set of Long-Term Sustainability Guidelines, bringing together policymakers to discuss implementation strategies.
• UNISPACE+50 High-Level Forum: Participated in the inaugural UNOOSA-UAE Forum in Dubai, leading discussions on measuring space benefits, small satellites, and the role of space in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• Space Crisis Tabletop Exercise (TTX): Co-hosted with CSIS in Washington, DC, simulating crisis scenarios to examine escalation risks and gaps in current legal and political mechanisms.
• Outer Space Treaty at 50: Organized a commemorative event at Georgetown Law School reviewing legal developments, historical context, and current governance challenges.
• Space Resources Governance: Actively participated in the Hague Working Group to develop proposed building blocks for future legal frameworks enabling sustainable space resource development.

The statement reaffirms SWF’s commitment to ensuring secure and sustainable outer space through international cooperation and legal advancement.