The COPUOS was set up to govern the exploration and use of space for the benefit of all humanity: for peace, security and development. The Committee was tasked with reviewing international cooperation in peaceful uses of outer space, studying space-related activities that could be undertaken by the United Nations, encouraging space research programmes, and studying legal problems arising from the exploration of outer space.
The Committee was instrumental in the creation of the five treaties and five principles of outer space. International cooperation in space exploration and the use of space technology applications to meet global development goals are discussed in the Committee every year. Owing to rapid advances in space technology, the space agenda is constantly evolving. The Committee therefore provides a unique platform at the global level to monitor and discuss these developments.
The Committee has two subsidiary bodies: the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee, and the Legal Subcommittee,
The Committee reports to the Fourth Committee of the General Assembly, which adopts an annual resolution on international cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space.
Belgium is member of the COPUOS.
The Belgian Science Policy is represented in the Belgian delegation to the COPUOS which is headed by the Belgian Ambassador in Vienna.
The body of the United Nations in charge of the organisation and of executing the decisions of the COPUOS is the OOSA (Office for Outer Space Affairs).
COPUOS has its headquarters in Vienna.
Jean-François Mayence
Legal Service
