6th luxembourg workshop on space and satellite ......•morocco -eu agreement on galileo •direct...
TRANSCRIPT
Space Activities and
Space Law situation in Africa
1st June 2017, Luxembourg
Riffi Temsamani M. S.
Royal Center for Remote Sensing
1
6th Luxembourg Workshop on Space and Satellite Communication Law
Space Serving the Earth: Regulatory Framework in Africa
1 – Space law situation and space activities in Africa
2 – Example of Morocco
- Introduction
- COPUOS and African participation
A : Space activities in Morocco
2
- African space law situation
B : Space Law in Morocco
3 – Conclusion : How to promote space law in Africa
- Remote Sensing in Africa
3
Introduction
Space law is an important function in international cooperation, providing space
activities with guidance, and its development takes many forms over the years
The increasing commercial use of space , necessitates that policy and law makers
become aware of the need for and ways of regulating such activities
The importance of preserving the space environment and protecting outer space
from human activities, should be emphasized through the Space Law enforcement.
The promotion of regional cooperation on space law capacity building and
technologies is necessary for economic growth and sustainable development.
1 – Space law and space activities in Africa
Some major treaties elements :
Free access to space and all areas of celestial bodies to all countries and
no national appropriation or claims of sovereignty
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The United Nations has so far adopted five treaties and eight sets of principles on
Outer Space
The role of U. N. is to promote peaceful exploration and cooperation
States parties shall inform the UN / S-G, the public, and the international scientific
community of their activities involving exploration and use of the moon
Any party may propose amendments to those treaties which will be accepted
Upon a majority vote
The operations and use of Outer Space must be consistent with international law and the UN Charter
The legal subcommittee of the COPUOS has discussed various aspects of
international space law, and plays an important role for enhancing international
cooperation in space law , specially in developing countries
COPUOS* and African participation
The UN/COPUOS has a current membership of 84 states of which 19 are African
Only 4 to 6 of those African membership are regularly present in the legal
subcommittee of the COPUOS
Less interest; no space activities existing in a major of African countries
Lack of awareness of the space law governing the outer space activities
No space law curricula in the African Universities and no specialized institutions in
those countries 5
This is due to
*Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space
6
5
30
24
24
7
4
Participation rate in the last LSC session (April 2017)
Africa (54)
Europe(46)
Asia (44)
America (35)
Oceania (14)
OG+ONG
Legal sub-committee and African participation rate
This graph shows that this year (2017), Africa was represented on the legal sub-committee by only 5 countries
This result is identical for other entities specialized in space activities.
This lack of interest can also be explained by the lack of financial resources experienced by most African countries........
States of Members Space institutions Copuos Member Treaties ratified National space
law
Morocco
Algeria
Nigeria
Kenya
CRTS - CRERS
ASAL
Since 1961
Since 2002
since 1958
5 ratified
3 ratifiedDecrees covering several aspects of space activity
-------------
In Preparation
In Preparation
Yes
Egypt 2 ratified
1 signedNARSS
The situation of Space law in Africa :
Example of African countries using space technology
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South Africa
DRSRSDepartment of Resource Surveys and Remote Sensing
NASRDA
2 ratified
4 ratified
4 ratified
Since 1973
Since 1994
Since 1973
National Authority For Remote Sensing & Space Sciences
SANSASouth Africa National Space Agency
National Space Research and Dev. Agency
Decrees covering several aspects of space activity
Ratification of the 5 treaties : Case of African countries :
This graph shows the very low rate of
ratification in Africa
8
2015 15
410
5
10
15
20
25
OST ARRA LIAB REG MOON
states
The five treaties in the 54African countries
Comparison with Asian States
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
Africa Asia
OST
ARRA
LIAB
REG
MOON
This graphic shows that ratification of the
five Space treaties is higher in Asia than in Africa
This is explained by extensive use of space technology and its applications in Asian countries
In Asia, during the last decade several national institutions and specialized agencies in the field of space have been set up to promote science and technology in space
Regional Centers for Space Science and Technology Education
Affiliated to the UN
These regional centers were recommended by the COPUOS and
approved by the G.A in its resolution 45/72 of 11 December 1990
The role of these regional centers, is to promote space science and
technology education in developing countries
The host countries for the African centers are :
Morocco (French speaking countries), and
Nigeria (English speaking countries )
During its participation in the sessions of the Legal Subcommittee, Morocco has
always advocated the integration of space law into the curricula of regional
centers.
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Indeed, since 2007, Morocco through the CRTS has supported the teaching of
Space Law at the Masters of the Regional Center of Rabat.
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Remote sensing In Africa
Several national institutions in Africa have been established forsatellite data processing……….
Most of these institutions were set up with the support ofInternational partners In the framework of cooperation projects
Depending on countries needs and priorities, various applications indifferent domains were implemented such as in agriculture, hydrology,and natural resource management, in general to support developmentpolicies of each country.
To strengthen endogenous capacities of these institutions majorefforts were undertaken in terms of training and capacity buildingprograms.
Ambitious R&D programs on space techniques and remote sensingwere implemented in the African universities in the internationalcooperation framework.
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Remote Sensing Applications in Africa
The applications of remote sensing are numerous in Africa, several areas are concerned, such as:
- Food Security
- Risk management / Floods
- Monitoring Pastoral Dynamics
- Agricultural Statistics
- Agricultural Insurance
- Early warning systems for food security
- Urban Planning
- Land occupation
- Mapping
II - Space activities and space law in Morocco
National institutions to promote space activities
A - Space Activities in Morocco
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Two national institutions
The Royal Center for Space Research and Studies : CRERS
o its first experience : Micro Sat launch in 2001
o was created to develop the Moroccan space technology
o Mission : remote sensing, communications and position
II - Space activities and space law in Morocco
The royal Center for Remote Sensing : CRTS
• Is a national institution created in 1989 responsible for :
Coordination and execution of the national program of RS
Provision of technical advisory services related to Space information
Provision of training and education opportunities in Space technology
and space law and carrying out research actions and programs
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The Vision
continue to Publish the scientific review « Geo-Observateur », which reports the results of works and research, undertaken in developing countries, and which is also an indicator of development
strengthen training and international and regional cooperation
programs.
Translate space technologies into operational tools
A - Space Activities in Morocco
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Integrate geospatial information in the sustainable development Value chain
become one of the advanced scientific agencies in conducting research and providing services in field of remote sensing and space sciences.
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• Realization of projects and studies
• Technical assistance
• Development of methodologies
• Platforms for Spatial Information Processing
Developing operations
• Agreement with major operators of EOsatellites
• Morocco -EU agreement on Galileo
• Direct Receiving Infrastructure
Ensure access to satellite resources
• Continuing Education Program• R & D work
• Stay in specialized laboratories
• Awareness seminars
• Space law
Building national capacity
The MissionA - Space Activities in Morocco
Agricultural statistics and production forecasting
water resources management
forest and pastoral resources assessment
urban and land management
space cartography and geometrics
environment and hazards
geological applications
oceanography, climate and marine resources
• Support to government departments in various fields :
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Applications and Users
• The CRTS provides expertise to national and regional institutions
(governmental, private, …) for :
acquisition, archiving and distribution of Earth observation data
consultancy and technical assistance
providing training and education opportunities in space technologies
A - Space Activities in Morocco
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International cooperation
Bilateral
CNES, ESA, NASA, Chine…
Strengthening National
Capacities
Development of New Services
EuropeanPrograms: FP7,
H2020
Promoting space for users
Contribute to the treatment of regional and global issues
Promote South-South
cooperation
International Organization : UNOOSA, FAO,
PNUD, GEO
COSPAR, IAF, EURISY, IISL
GALILEO
EU - Morocco
International cooperation
Since its creation, the CRTS has undertaken privileged relations with several International Organizations, Governmental and Non-Governmental
Organizations to ensure a diversified and fruitful cooperation.
The Moroccan space law situation
• United Nations Treaties
Morocco has ratified the five UN treaties :
- The outer space treaty
- The rescue agreement
- The liability convention
- The registration convention
- The Moon agreement
B - Space law situation in Morocco
• Morocco is a member of COPUOS since 1961
• Actively takes part in the proceedings of the committee and its subsidiary bodies since 1992
II - Space activities and space law in Morocco
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• Morocco is currently in the process of setting up a national space law
Actions which had permit to promote space law in
Morocco
Tree regional workshops on space law dedicated to French speaking African
countries are organized
Active involvement in regional workshops in space Law co-organized by :
- OOSA : Netherlands 2002, Korea 2003, Nigeria 2005
- IISL : Thailand 2007,
- AU : Kenya 2013
All the workshops were Co-organized with European partners, ESA-ECSL, CNES
ASI, DLR, IDEST
Participation in international space law courses (Italia 2005)
Information actions were organized frequently, to increase public awareness
B - Space law in Morocco
19Two specific edition of Geo-Observateur was dedicated to
a space lawDuring the last ten years
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III – Conclusion : How to promote space law in Africa ?
To sensitise decision makers, projects managers, administrators,… to the benefits of space
To promote understanding, acceptance and implementation of the United Nations treaties and principles on outer space
To consider space law and policy in the context of space economy, space society, space accessibility and space diplomacy
To study trends in and challenges to the progressive development of space law;
To assess further needs for capacity-building, assistance and outreach in connection with space law and policy.
A. Objectives
Encourage the integration of space law in the University and regional centres
curricula
Promote regional cooperation on educating space Law and Technologies for a
economic growth and sustainable development
Incorporate the elements of space law into science and technology courses
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III - How to promote space law in Africa ?
B. Recommendations
Training dedicated to specialists in law to enhance their understanding
and knowledge the space law
UNOOSA or Agencies experts could play an important role to assist concerned
authorities to set up the basis of a national space law-framework
Exchange with countries that had established space law and policies
Multiply the meetings at the level of Africa in order to better explain the interest to accede to the five treaties governing the Space