VIENNA, 19 November (UN Information Service) – The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (OOSA), within the framework of the Programme on Space Applications, is organizing a four-day workshop on space law: “Disseminating and developing international and national space law: the Latin America and Caribbean perspective”. The Workshop is being co-organized and hosted by the Associação Brasileira de Direito Aeronáutico e Espacial (SBDA) and the Government of Brazil, and will be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 22 to 25 November 2004. It is the third in a series of workshops organized by OOSA that aim at building capacity in space law.

A continuous increase in space activities means that space laws, policies and institutions are becoming increasingly important for a greater number of countries worldwide. The increased space activities have also highlighted the need for the ratification and effective implementation of the five United Nations treaties on outer space, as well as the elaboration of national space laws and policies. The successful operation of space laws, policies and institutions in a country relies on the presence of qualified professionals. Therefore, educational opportunities and institutions that address the subject of space law and policy are also important.

The objective of the United Nations/Brazil Workshop is to develop expertise and capability in national and international space law with an emphasis on matters of specific interest to the Latin America and Caribbean region. An important objective of the workshop will be to increase international cooperation in space law.

The Workshop will include presentations and discussions on the following topics: space law and technological cooperation; space law and the world launching industry; national institutions and education in space law; space law and remote sensing activities; 20 years of the Moon Agreement: space law challenges for returning to the Moon; and communications, navigation, surveillance/air traffic management systems (CNS/ATM) and space law.

Over 50 participants, including policy and decision makers from the following countries and international organizations, are expected to attend the workshop: Antigua, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Guyana, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Nigeria, Peru, Ukraine, Uruguay, United States, Venezuela and OOSA.

The United Nations Programme on Space Applications is implemented by the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs and works to improve the use of space science and technology for the economic and social development of all nations, in particular developing countries. Under the Programme, the Office conducts training courses, workshops, seminars and other activities on applications and capacity building in subjects such as remote sensing, communications, satellite meteorology, search and rescue, basic space science, satellite navigation and space law.

The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (OOSA) implements the decisions of the General Assembly and of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space and its two Subcommittees, the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee and the Legal Subcommittee. The Office is responsible for promoting international cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space, and assisting developing countries in using space science and technology. Located in Vienna, Austria, OOSA maintains a website at http://www.unoosa.org.

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