By Jessica West
I’m virtually attending the OEWG on PAROS in all its aspects and will be sharing updates, insights, and essential context throughout the process. Follow along on Twitter/X: @JessicaWestPhD #ParosOEWG or LinkedIn: jessica-west-phd.
PAROS OEWG
The Open-ended Working Group (OEWG) on the Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space (PAROS) in all its aspects is a new United Nations forum where all UN Member States, along with relevant NGO, commercial, and academic experts and stakeholders, are invited to participate. The goal is to develop recommendations that will shape future UN action on space security.
The OEWG is established under UN General Assembly Resolution 79/512 and brings together two recent UN processes:
- The 2022–2023 OEWG on Reducing Space Threats through norms, rules, and principles of responsible behaviours.
- The 2023–2024 Group of Governmental Experts (GGE) on further practical measures for the prevention of an arms race in outer space.
Each process explored complementary approaches to PAROS:
- The OEWG emphasized responsible behaviour and norms, grounded in existing space and international law.
- The GGE focused on options for legally binding instruments to prohibit weapons and the use of force in space.
Instead of running parallel tracks, this new OEWG merges both approaches into a single, comprehensive conversation.
What Will the OEWG Discuss?
While the agenda has not yet been agreed upon, the earlier discussions provide clues.
UN resolutions (78/20 and 78/283) provide clues. Discussions may include:
From UN resolution 78/20 to continue the OEWG on Norms of Responsible Behaviour:
- Intentional damage or destruction of space systems
- Threats to the safe operation of space objects
- Rendezvous and proximity operations (RPOs) that could be misinterpreted or escalate tensions
- Protecting space-based services, especially those critical for civilians and humanitarian needs
- Reducing risks of miscalculation or conflict
- Monitoring and verifying norms, including through:
- Space situational awareness (SSA)
- Capacity-building
- Consultation mechanisms
- Using norms to pave the way toward legally binding agreements
From the GGE Consensus Report (2024):
- Defining key terms for a legal instrument on PAROS
- Common understanding of threats in outer space
- Exploring arms control measures, limitations, or prohibitions
- Verification methods and their feasibility
- Institutional arrangements to support implementation
- Promoting peaceful uses of outer space
- Clarifying principles of space law, such as:
- Peaceful purposes
- Due regard
- Supervision and authorization
- Duty to consult
- Ensuring gender equity and meaningful participation
- Engaging civil society and commercial actors
- Expanding transparency and confidence-building measures(TCBMs)
Connecting the Dots: Themes That Link Both Tracks
Key themes likely to shape the OEWG’s work include:
- Preventing harmful actions in space
- Norms as stepping stones toward legal agreements
- Transparency, trust, and confidence-building
- Inclusion, cooperation, and capacity-sharing
- Verification and monitoring tools
Timeline and Current Status
The OEWG held a two-day organizational session in February2025 to discuss its structure and agenda. However, States did not reach consensus. According to the Chair, the main point of tension was how to balance discussions between voluntary measures (like norms) and legally binding instruments—a core issue at the heart of the merged process.
The OEWG will meet 8 times in total to hold formal, substantive discussions (2 one-week sessions each year):
- 2025 (7-11 April and 21-25 July)
- 2026
- 2027
- 2028
Want to Learn More?
Check out my Recap Reports from the previous OEWG on Reducing Space Threats:
Session One
Session Two
Session Three
Session Four
Read my submission to the GGE on how transparency and confidence-building measures (TCBMs) can help bridge norms and legal initiatives.
Find the UN resource page for the PAROS OEWG with related documents and statements here.
