The virtual seminar will be held from 12:30 to 2:00 p.m. (E.T.)
The United Nations General Assembly in 1959 established its Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space in an effort to ensure that the exploration and use of space was for the benefit of all humanity. Since the 1970s, it has pursued efforts to prevent an arms race in outer space. While these efforts were motivated by a desire to manage the Cold War arms race, recent developments have rapidly changed the landscape of perceived threats relating to outer space. This presentation will cover the historical evolution of outer space security efforts within the United Nations, introduce key concepts and contending approaches, and describe current proposals and initiatives.
About the speaker: Michael Spies is a Senior Political Officer and Deputy Chief of the Geneva Branch of the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA). He currently functions as the head of the Secretariat of the Conference on Disarmament and a lead of the outer space security portfolio. He previously served in the UNODA Weapons of Mass Destruction Branch, Strategic Planning Unit and Science and Technology Unit. Prior to joining the United Nations, he worked for various non-governmental organizations on disarmament and arms control.