Human Rights and Space: Reflections on the Implications of Human Activity in Outer Space on Human Rights Law

Danielle Ireland-Piper, Steven Freeland

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    Abstract

    What are the implications of human activity in outer space for international human rights law? In this article, we reflect on these questions with a view to advancing dialogue on the intersection between space law and human rights. We do so by considering the impact of extra-terrestrial human activities such as access to space and remote-sensing activities, space debris, space mining, the weaponisation and militarization of space, and the assertion of criminal jurisdiction extra-terrestrially. Ultimately, we conclude that human activity in space has significant consequences for the advancement of human rights. While, in our view, existing legal frameworks on international human rights law apply extra-terrestrially, there is still scope for specialist frameworks guarding human rights law in the context of human activity in outer space.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)101-127
    JournalGroningen Journal of International Law
    Volume9
    Issue number1
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2021

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