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First Committee Agenda Item 96 (a): Prevention of an arms race in outer space

On October 19, the Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See to the UN gave an intervention before the First Committee of the Seventy-First Session of the United Nations General Assembly on Agenda Item 96(a), dedicated to the “Prevention of an arms race in outer space.”

In its statement, the Holy See noted that humanity has become so increasingly dependent on satellite technology for telecommunications, navigation, regulating water and electricity, banking and so many other activities that space technology has become a universal common good and heritage, making its vulnerability a risk for all humanity. Efforts to outlaw war in space are critical. The Holy See urged the Conference on Disarmament to overcome its years-long impasse and begin negotiations for dealing with conventional weapons in space, for the international community promptly to negotiate and adopt an International Code of Conduct for Outer Space Activities, and for greater collaboration in the peaceful development of outer space to be fostered.

The statement can be found here.