Resolution adopted by the General Assembly  on 4 December 2023          [on the report of the First Committee (A/78/407, para. 15)]        78/20. Reducing space threats through norms, rules and principles of  responsible behaviours        The General Assembly,    Recalling its resolutions 75/36 of 7 December 2020 and 76/231 of 24 December  2021,    Recalling also its resolutions 68/50 of 5 December 2013, 77/40, 77/41 and 77/42  of 7 December 2022 and 77/250 of 30 December 2022,    Reaffirming the applicability of international law, including the Charter of the  United Nations, to outer space activities and the right of all States to explore and use  outer space without discrimination of any kind, on a basis of equality and in  accordance with such law, and emphasizing the importance of full compliance with  such law,    Reaffirming also the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in  the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial  Bodies,1 and the obligations therein to explore and use outer space for the benefit and  in the interests of all countries, to be guided by the principle of cooperation and  mutual assistance, and to conduct all activities in outer space with due regard for the  corresponding interests of all States parties to the Treaty,    Emphasizing the need to maintain outer space as a peaceful, safe, stable, secure  and sustainable environment for the benefit of all and the significant contribution of  outer space activities to social, economic, scientific and technological development,  as well as to international peace and security,  __________________    1  United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 610, No. 8843.   A/RES/78/20  Reducing space threats through norms, rules and principles of  responsible behaviours   23-24507 2/4      Urging all States, when developing, planning and executing their space  activities, to remain committed to the peaceful exploration and use of outer space and  to refrain from conducting activities contrary to their obligations under international  law, including those that could threaten the ability of all States to freely use and  explore outer space, now and in the future,    Seriously concerned about the possibility of an arms race in outer space, and  reaffirming that the prevention of an arms race in outer space would avert a grave  danger for international peace and security, as well as being an essential condition for  the promotion and strengthening of international cooperation in the exploration and  use of outer space for peaceful purposes,    Stressing that the deliberate destruction of space systems increases the amount  of long-lived orbital debris, the risk of in-orbit collisions and the potential for  misunderstanding and miscalculations that could lead to conflict, and welcoming the  commitment of several States not to conduct destructive direct-ascent anti-satellite  missile tests,    Noting the rapid advances of technologies in space systems, the uses of which  are diverse and could have positive or negative effects on international security, and  encouraging further discussion among States of the impact of these developments,    Recognizing the need for States to seek to avoid and mitigate the potential  impact on peace and security arising from accidents, miscommunication or a lack of  transparency, which could lead to miscalculations and the escalation of tensions and  contribute to an arms race,    Acknowledging the importance of space systems in the provision of services  critical to civilians, and concerned at the risk of harm arising from threats to these  systems,    Recalling paragraph 80 of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of  the General Assembly,2 in which it is stated that, in order to prevent an arms race in  outer space, further measures should be taken and appropriate international  negotiations held in accordance with the spirit of the Treaty on Principles Governing  the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon  and Other Celestial Bodies,    Convinced that possible solutions to outer space security, including norms, rules  and principles of responsible behaviours, can involve a combination of legally  binding obligations and political commitments, and that work in both of these areas  can be further pursued in a progressive, sustained and complementary manner,  without undermining existing legal obligations,    Recognizing that efforts to prevent an arms race and to prevent conflict from  beginning in or extending into outer space must include consideration of the use of  all potential technologies and means, whether on Earth or in outer space,    Reiterating the common objective of preventing an arms race in outer space in  all its aspects and the consequent need for all States to work together to reduce threats  to space systems through the further development and implementation of norms, rules  and principles of responsible behaviours, including an appropriate combination of  both political commitments and legally binding instruments, with the aim of  preventing an arms race in outer space in all its aspects and of maintaining a peaceful,  safe, stable, secure and sustainable outer space environment,  __________________    2  Resolution S-10/2.   Reducing space threats through norms, rules and principles of  responsible behaviours  A/RES/78/20   3/4 23-24507      Reaffirming that verification is one of the essential components of legally  binding arms control instruments, and encouraging further consideration of effective  verification regarding space systems,    Recalling the primary role of the Conference on Disarmament on questions  relating to the prevention of an arms race in outer space in all its aspects, including  the weaponization of outer space and threats from capabilities on Earth, and the  relevant responsibilities of the First Committee of the General Assembly and the  Disarmament Commission,    Welcoming the ongoing work by the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer  Space on the implementation of the 21 Guidelines for the Long-term Sustainability  of Outer Space Activities,3 which may have a positive effect on international peace  and security,    Welcoming also the recommendations to promote the practical implementation  of transparency and confidence-building measures in outer space with the goal of  preventing an arms race in outer space in accordance with the recommendations set out  in the report of the Group of Governmental Experts on Transparency and Confidence- Building Measures in Outer Space Activities adopted by the Disarmament Commission  at its substantive session of 2023,4     Recognizing the importance of the full, equal, meaningful and effective  participation of women and men in discussions on reducing space threats through  responsible behaviours and the need to address the possible differentiated impacts of  such threats,    1.  Reaffirms that all States must conduct their activities in the exploration  and use of outer space, including the Moon and other celestial bodies, in conformity  with international law, including the Charter of the United Nations, urges Member  States to ensure that their space policies comply with their obligations, and  encourages those States that have not yet become parties to the international treaties  governing the exploration and use of outer space to give consideration to ratifying or  acceding to them in accordance with their national law;    2.  Welcomes the deliberations held in 2022 and 2023 by the open-ended  working group on reducing space threats through norms, rules and principles of  responsible behaviours established by the General Assembly in its resolution 76/231,  which, together with the working papers and presentations submitted to the Assembly,  constitute an important contribution to outer space security and the prevention of an  arms race in outer space;    3.  Expresses its appreciation to the participants of the open-ended working  group for their constructive contribution to its work;    4.  Decides to convene, in Geneva, a new open-ended working group,  building on the work of the 2022–2023 open-ended working group and other relevant  bodies, including the Group of Government Experts established in its resolution  77/250, and the existing international legal framework, including principles of  international law, to further elaborate the concept, and to make recommendations on  the prevention of an arms race in outer space through the development of norms, rules  and principles of responsible behaviours, including, but not exclusively, in the  following areas:    (a)  Intentional damage to and destruction of space systems;  __________________    3  Official Records of the General Assembly, Seventy-fourth Session, Supplement No. 20 (A/74/20),  annex II.    4  Ibid., Seventy-eighth Session, Supplement No. 42 (A/78/42), annex.   A/RES/78/20  Reducing space threats through norms, rules and principles of  responsible behaviours   23-24507 4/4      (b)  Threats to the safe operation of space objects;    (c)  Rendezvous operations and proximity operations that could increase the  risk of misunderstanding and miscalculation;    (d)  Protecting critical space-based services to civilians as well as services that  support humanitarian operations;    (e)  Other activities and measures that could reduce the risk of unintended  escalation and conflict;  and to consider how the implementation of norms, rules and principles of responsible  behaviours could be monitored and verified, including through the provision of  capacity-building, cooperation on space situational awareness and the possible  establishment of a mechanism for inter-State coordination and consultation on matters  pertaining to space security, and how they would contribute to the negotiation of  legally binding instruments, including on the prevention of an arms race in outer space;    5.  Also decides that the open-ended working group shall submit its report to  the General Assembly at its eighty-first session, and that it shall adopt its final  conclusions and recommendations by consensus;    6.  Further decides that the open-ended working group shall hold a two-day  organizational session and two substantive sessions of five days each in 2025, and  two substantive sessions of five days each in 2026, and that the Chair may also hold  intersessional consultative meetings with interested parties to exchange views on the  issues within the mandate of the open-ended working group;    7.  Reaffirms that intergovernmental organizations and other entities having  received a standing invitation to participate as observers in the work of the General  Assembly and representatives of non-governmental organizations that are in  consultative status with the Economic and Social Council, in accordance with Council  resolution 1996/31 of 25 July 1996, may participate, including by speaking and  submitting documents, in the formal and informal meetings of the open-ended  working group as observers;    8.  Requests the Chair of the open-ended working group to draw up a list of  representatives of other relevant non-governmental organizations, civil society  organizations, academic institutions and the private sector who may participate,  including by speaking and submitting documents, in the open-ended working group,  taking into account the principles of transparency and equitable geographical  representation, with due regard for gender parity, to submit the proposed list to  Member States for their consideration on a non-objection basis5 and to bring the list  to the attention of the open-ended working group for a final decision by the open- ended working group on participation;    9.  Requests the Secretary-General to provide all necessary assistance to the  open-ended working group and its Chair and to transmit its report to the Conference  on Disarmament and the Disarmament Commission;    10. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its seventy-ninth session,  under the item entitled “Prevention of an arms race in outer space”, the sub-item  entitled “Reducing space threats through norms, rules and principles of responsible  behaviours”.  42nd plenary meeting  4 December 2023  __________________    5  The list will include proposed as well as final names. The general basis of any objections, if  requested by one or more States Members of the United Nations, will be made known to the  Chair of the open-ended working group, the Office for Disarmament Affairs of the Secretariat  and the requester.