Reaching Critical Will

Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)

Conference on Disarmament

General Assembly First Committee

UN Disarmament Commission

Special Session on Disarmament

PAROS Working Group
co-sponsored by Women's International League for Peace and Freedom
and the Global Network Against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space

Also visit RCW's Outer Space page

The Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space (PAROS) Working Group was formed in April 2008 at the annual organizing conference of the Global Network Against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space by members of the Network and the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF).

For more information about the working group, please contact Carol Urner at carol.disarm[at]gmail.com.

Members of WILPF and participants in the Global Network concerned about this issue are invited to join the working group list serve at gn-Paros[at]yahoogroups.de. Contact Regina Hagen, the moderator, at regina.hagen[at]jugendstil.da.shuttle.de.

Fact Sheets (in PDF format):

More background information from Reaching Critical Will:

Relevant international organizations and committees:

Recent developments and documents:

Canadian paper on “The Merits of Certain Draft Transparency and Confidence Building Measures and Treaty Proposals for Space Security,” introduced to the Conference on Disarmament on 26 March 2009
EU Draft Code of Conduct for Outer Space Activities, 8 December 2008
Introduced to the Conference on Disarmament on 12 February 2009
European Parliament resolution on Space and Security, 10 July 2008
(Article on the resolution: "Galileo Key to European Defense, Says Parliament," 11 July 2008)
Draft Treaty on the Prevention of the Placement of Weapons in Outer Space, the Threat or Use of Force Against Outer Space Objects (PPWT) - draft treaty introduced to the Conference on Disarmament by Russia and China, 12 February 2008
Draft outline of a code of conduct on space objects and space activities - submitted by the Portugal on behalf of the European Union to the Secretary-General's report “Transparency and confidence-building measures in outer space activities,” A/62/114/Add.1, 18 September 2007
Space debris mitigation guidelines - adopted by the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, 15 June 2007

Key legal instruments to protect outer space:

1963 Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapon Tests In The Atmosphere, In Outer Space And Under Water
1967 Outer Space Treaty (formally titled as the Treaty on the Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies.)
(Summary of Outer Space Treaty)
1968 Rescue Agreement (formally titled as the Agreement on the Rescue of Astronauts, the Return of Astronauts and the Return of Objects Launched into Outer Space)
1971 Agreement Relating To The International Telecommunications Satellite Organization "Intelsat" (with annexes and Operating Agreement)
1972 Liability Convention (formally titled as the Convention on International Liability for Damage Caused by Space Objects)
1975 Registration Convention (formally titled the Convention on the Registration of Objects Launched into Outer Space)
1979 Moon Agreement (formally entitled the Agreement Governing the Activities of States on the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies)
1985 Convention On The International Maritime Satellite Organization (INMARSAT) with Annex and Operating Agreement (1976); as amended 1985; with Protocol (1981)

Related organizations and projects