War in space is not inevitable. Outer space is not ‘wild west.’ There are fundamental rules of international law that govern all space activities, including military space activities. Outer space must be used for the benefit and interest of all states and for peaceful purposes. Outer space must be explored and used in accordance with international law, including the Charter of the United Nations, in the interest of maintaining international peace and security. However, the sources of international legal principles and rules applicable to all space activities are varied and thus they create a complex legal regime governing outer space.

Professor Ram Jakhu's lecture will address key principles of international law, which must be understood and studied from a neutral perspective and applied effectively. He explains that this is necessary to uphold the rule of law and avoid the use of force in outer space not only to maintain international peace and security but also to assure unprecedented benefits of outer space to the entire humanity.

Please join us for this virtual conversation. Register here

About the Speaker

Professor Ram S. Jakhu is a tenured Professor at the Institute of Air and Space Law, Faculty of Law, McGill University, Montreal, Canada. For the last four decades, he has been teaching and conducting research in international space law and public international law. He held several positions, including the Director of the McGill Institute of Air and Space Law, and the first Director of the Master of Space Studies Program of the International Space University, France.

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Presented by the Reppy Institute for Peace and Conflict Studies. Co-sponsored by the Gender and Security Sector Lab and the Department of Science and Technology Studies.