Committee on Space Law. Working Session Johannesburg

DRA MAUREEN WILLIAMS (PRESIDENT OF ILA SPACE LAW COMMITTEE); MAHULENA HOFFMAN; ADV. VIVIANE CONTIN-WILLIAMS SESSION REPORTER OF THE WORKSHOP); DR STEPHAN HOBE(RAPPORTEUR OF ILA SPACE LAW COMMITTEE); MG. BRUCE MAULEVERER (CHAIR OF THE WORKING GROUP SESSION)

Report of the Seventy-Seventh Conference of the International Law Association

International Law Association, Cambrian Printers

Lugar: Londres; Año: 2017 p. 142 - 154

0074-6738

Autoría compartidaNOTA IMPORTANTE:. POR FAVOR TENER EN CUENTA que este artículo constituye la etapa final de la producción científica presentada por quien subscribe a la 77a Conferencia de la International Law Association. Es decir su publicación en Revista especializada  en 2017 después de la Conferencia dse Johannesburgo de 2016 donde fuera adoptada por consenso esta producción.  Por ello, en otro acápite de este Informe que alude a participación y presentaciones en eventos internacionales publicadas en revistas o libros de la especialidad, también se adjunta este artículo.ABSTRACTBy no means was the mention of natural resources made in Art 11(1) of the MOON, or considering them commonheritage of mankind, a rule of customary international law, nor was it on itsway to becoming one. Rather, it was a stumbling block for the MOON to gain supportfrom the international community. On this point, the precedent set by Part XIof UNCLOS, concerning the Area, was a good illustration. Today, only sixteen Stateswere bound by the MOON.In light of the current situation regarding the legal nature ofnatural resources from outer space, the US legislation was consistent withinternational law and should be seen as an interpretation of Art II of the OST. Other interpretations might follow and would be welcome. In the US legislation,the ban on claims of sovereignty over outer space, the moon and other celestialbodies, remained untouched. Interesting, for its implications, was the Statement of IISL Board of Directors in 2009 when considering that a specific legal regime for the exploitation of naturalresources from outer space should be elaborated on the basis of presentinternational space law, for purposes of clarity and legal certainty in thenear future.Other new aspects of space activities, such as suborbital flights and the possibility of drawing up Guidelines for a Model Law are debated in this contex and, of course environmental security in space.The time was ready  -although perhaps not the political moment-  to give Art II of the OST and thecontroversial sides of the MOON a more positive spin. In this quest adown-to-earth discussion surrounding some special kind of ownership appeared opportune  perhaps using different or new terminology to avoid confusion andmisinterpretations. This would help addressing the problem in its prime colours. In this challenge, international cooperation would have a major role to play. Other new aspects of space activities, such as suborbital flights and the possibility of drawing up Guidelines for a Model Law of Suborbital Flights are debated in this contex and generally seen with favour by the participants. Questions relating to environmental security in space were also discussed on this occasion and concern was noted on the part of the meeting about the threats and risks involved in this issue