SWF Statement – UN COPUOS LSC, Agenda Item 4: NGO Activities in Space Law (March 2023)

Secure World Foundation shares its legal and capacity-building activities conducted between May 2022 and March 2023, underscoring its role as a long-standing observer to COPUOS and contributor to space law development and sustainability.

Key updates include:

• Handbook for New Actors in Space:
  Continued global distribution of the handbook (in English, Spanish, French, and Chinese). Revisions for a new edition are underway, with free downloads available at swfound.org/handbook .
• Summit for Space Sustainability:
  The 4th Summit was held in London in June 2022 (co-hosted with the UK Space Agency), engaging 600+ participants. SWF announced the 5th Summit will be held in New York City, June 13–14, 2023.
• Regulator Dialogues on Large Constellations:
  Held Regulator-to-Regulator Dialogues in London, Paris, and Vienna to address licensing and oversight of large satellite constellations. Emphasized alignment between national and international regulatory approaches and shared insights on orbital carrying capacity.
• UNOOSA Legal Advisory Project:
  SWF, alongside Belgium, Chile, and Luxembourg, continues supporting UNOOSA’s Legal Advisory Project to help emerging space nations draft national space legislation aligned with international law.
• US National Policy Input:
  Submitted recommendations to the US National Space Council on authorization and supervision of novel space activities, reinforcing Article VI of the Outer Space Treaty and urging a modernized policy framework.
• Legal Education Initiatives:
  Sponsored the 2023 North American Manfred Lachs Space Law Moot Court, held at Georgetown University, to promote student engagement with international space law.

The statement reaffirms SWF’s commitment to working with COPUOS and the international community in advancing sustainable and peaceful space governance.