Since the launch of the MILAMOS Project in May 2016, tremendous progress has been made by the dozens of experts and contributors involved in the Project. Below is an overview of the major milestones in this three-year manual-drafting process.
- MILAMOS Workshop I
- MILAMOS Inaugural Plenary
- Expert Roundtable on International Law Applicable to Military Activities in Outer Space
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听MILAMOS Workshop III held in Colorado Springs, United States of America
The third rule-drafting and consensus-forming workshop of the Project to draft the McGill Manual on International Law Applicable to Military Uses of Outer Space (MILAMOS) was held on 9-13 October 2017 at Colorado Springs in the United States of America.
Attended by over 40 experts and researchers involved in the Project, MILAMOS Workshop III was held at the United States Air Force (USAF) Academy. The plenary deliberations and closed research group meetings took place in the impressive Polaris Hall, a modern tower pointing directly towards Polaris, the North Star, symbolising the unwavering commitment of the USAF to good leadership and integrity. Polaris Hall was the result of public-private partnership and support coming from all sectors of society, and built to function as a forum bringing together instructors, cadets, military leaders, and public and private officials. The symbolic overtures of the impressive setting of Workshop III echoes the vision and values of MILAMOS鈥攚hich are to bring together and promote interaction and dialogue between legal and technical experts, academics, military officers, government officials, and other stakeholders in the private and public sector who commonly believe in the importance of a manual that clarfies the law applicable to the whole spectrum of military activities in outer space.
- the application of international law to outer space,
- the meaning and scope of 鈥渘ational space activities鈥� under Article VI of the Outer Space Treaty,
- the principle of non-intervention, and
- what constitutes an international armed conflict in the context of outer space.
While the USAF Academy hosted Workshop III, in the interest of maintaining the integrity and neutrality of the manual-drafting process the USAF and US Government neither provided input on the contents of the rules nor influenced the discussions that took place. The Academy鈥檚 decision to host was based only on its recognition, in common with many stakeholders and institutions around the world, of the great importance and value of the work undertaken by the MILAMOS Group of Experts.
Observers from the USAF Academy and officers from the USAF were present at some plenary sessions to gain insight into the manual-drafting and consensus-forming process. 听Several Academy cadets were also present as Rapporteurs, which gave them a first-hand opportunity to watch experts and practitioners discussing and forming a consensus on pertinent and cross-connected issues of international space law, the law governing the use of force, and international humanitarian law.
Ms. Cynda Arsenault, the President of the Secure World Foundation, a Supporting Institution of the MILAMOS Project, attended the Workshop as an Observer. A substantial proportion听 of the seed money to launch the Project听(in the order of $300,000) originated from the Erin JC Arsenault Fund at 香蕉视频. The Fund was established to promote research in strengthening the rule of law and global space governance and space security. In addition, a high-level Observer from the People鈥檚 Republic of China attended some of the proceedings, and was present to meet members of the Project Management Board and to discuss opportunities for greater involvement of Chinese participants and institutions. Since the launch of MILAMOS in 2016, the engagement of States and stakeholders from leading spacefaring nations and emerging space powers has always been a primary objective of the Project leadership.
Welcoming participants to the USAF Academy, Colonel Linell Ami Lentendre, Head of the Department of Law, and Vice Superintendent Col. David A. Harris Jr., each underlined the Academy鈥檚 pleasure and honour in hosting a gathering of experts who represent not only several legal disciplines but are also representative of diverse perspectives across the globe. 听Keynote speaker General John W. 鈥淛ay鈥� Raymond delivered an inspiring address to the MILAMOS Group of Experts. The four-star general is the Commander of the US Air Force Space Command, located at nearby Peterson Air Force Base, and graciously broke from his busy schedule to commend the MILAMOS Group of Experts for their collective efforts. 听Describing the Group most positively as 鈥渆nlightened space professionals鈥�, General Raymond noted that preserving the space domain for the common good requires States and people around the world to partner together. 听It is not in the interest of any State to use military force 听in space, but space has the potential to become a domain for warfare, just like any terrestrial domain. In the General鈥檚 view, a manual like MILAMOS is essential to preserving peace and security in a domain vulnerable to a whole variety of challenges. Earlier this year, General Raymond was present at a space conference in Israel and his talk on emerging threats for space assets immediately preceded a presentation on the MILAMOS Project.
In sum, MILAMOS Workshop III benchmarks the tremendous progress that has been made to date. 听While challenges in drafting a manual that is relevant for practitioners in the field and that is also accessible for a broader audience were identified, the MILAMOS Group of Experts is hopeful that the McGill Manual is on a solid track to completion. 听The next workshop will be held in Montreal, Canada, and will again be hosted by 香蕉视频, one of the Founding Institutions of the MILAMOS Project.
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MILAMOS Workshop I held in Adelaide, Australia
20 鈥� 22 February 2017
More than 50 legal experts, technical experts, researchers and others came together in Adelaide over the period 20 鈥� 22 February 2017 for the first MILAMOS Workshop. Following the preliminary coordination Workshop in October 2016 in Montreal, this was the first of a set of nine Workshops to reach consensus on draft Rules and Commentaries for the prospective Manual on International Law Applicable to Military Uses of Outer Space.
The MILAMOS members who were gathered together in Adelaide tackled several of the most foundational Rules (and their associated Commentary), as well as complex issues at the intersection of International Space Law, International Humanitarian Law and International Law on the Use of Force. In particular, the participants considered Rules on the following topics:
路听听听听听 Application of international law to outer space, especially in the context of military uses of outer space
路听听听听听 The prohibition on the threat or use of force in International Law on the Use of Force as it applies to outer space
路听听听听听 The principle of non-intervention in International Law on the Use of Force as it applies to outer space
路听听听听听 Application of International Humanitarian Law to outer space
路听听听听听 The principle of distinction in International Humanitarian Law, as it applies to outer space
路听听听听听 Delimitation of outer space and airspace
路听听听听听 The meaning of 鈥業nternational Armed Conflict鈥� as it applies to outer space and how, as a matter of law, an armed conflict may be regarded as internationalised in the context of outer space
路听听听听听 Legal rules about perfidy and ruses in the context of armed conflict in outer space
路听听听听听 The principle of non-appropriation in International Space law, especially in the context of military uses of outer space
路听听听听听 A definition of 鈥楳ilitary Space Activities鈥� to explain the scope of military uses of outer space that will be encompassed by the manual
While individual legal experts created each draft Rule and its associated Commentary, the discussion, in plenary sessions, of the draft Rules and Commentaries was on the basis of non-attribution. Furthermore, the Rules and Commentaries (expected to number between 150 and 250 on completion) will not be finalised until all Rules and Commentaries have been drafted and considered in plenary sessions and not until the process of State engagement has been completed. Nevertheless, the Management Board plans to publish, on this website and within a month, some limited further detail on the complex issues considered under each of the topics above.
The Management Board and editorial staff also considered, in detail, the most appropriate process for State engagement, with the intent of giving States a formal opportunity to contribute to the MILAMOS Project, even before a final draft of all Rules and Commentaries is collated. The Management Board intends to work with States to conduct events for the purpose of State engagement once there is a final draft (expected to occur in late 2019). It is important to note that the prospective Manual is not intended to be progressive in its articulation of Rules, but rather it is intended that it will be an authoritative statement of the application of existing law to military uses of outer space. To that end, participants in the MILAMOS Project contribute in a personal capacity, independent of any official positions or preferences of States or other organisations on what the law is or should be. Nevertheless, the Management Board believes there is significant value in engaging with States throughout the Project and welcomes initiatives by States to host and contribute to Workshops and engagement events, including financial contributions and sending representatives to engagement events.
The MILAMOS Project remains on track to publish the Manual in 2020. This Workshop was very successful and set a solid foundation for the following Workshops. The next MILAMOS Workshop is expected to be 20 鈥� 23 June 2017 in India.
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Inaugural Plenary of the MILAMOS Project held in Montreal, Canada
3-5 October 2016
The Inaugural Plenary of the McGill Manual on International Law Applicable to Military Uses of Outer Space (MILAMOS) Project was held in Montreal on 3-5 October 2016. Officially launched at the end of May 2016, the Inaugural Plenary of the MILAMOS Project took months of preparation and planning and was the first ever meeting of the MILAMOS Group of Experts, which is composed of practitioners, academics, military officers, technical experts and institutional observers carefully selected by the Management Board of the Project. In the end, including the support staff and student rapporteurs, there were 45 participants present, hailing from 19 different countries around the world, of whom 31% were female. This broad representation of nationalities, diversity and genders is something that has never before been seen in a manual-drafting process, and a testament to the MILAMOS Project鈥檚 vision to be inclusionary and truly international and interdisciplinary.
Dean Robert Leckey of McGill鈥檚 Faculty of Law and (incoming) University of Adelaide Law School Dean Melissa de Zwart welcomed the participants in the MILAMOS Project with some inspiring remarks on the first day of the Plenary. The unique partnership between the two institutions was instrumental in bringing together a balanced and international group composed of acclaimed academics, seasoned military officers and experienced technical experts. This delicate balance, together with the institutional recognition and support of a growing number of influential stakeholders, such as the International Committee of the Red Cross, will carry the Project forward in the coming three years.
In addition to the Experts who are involved in the MILAMOS Project, several State Observers were also present to observe the process and gain first-hand insight into discussions and deliberations at the Plenary. The presence of such Observers was welcomed as a means to transparency and to facilitate the State engagement process later on, particularly as the Manual aims to be utilised as a practical reference by space operators throughout the world.听
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In April 2016, the Professor Ram Jakhu presented the MILAMOS Project to a group of academics and students at . Further, Professor Jakhu gave the inaugural address of a organised by the Conseil Sup茅rieur de la Formation et de la Recherche Strat茅gique () and La Fondation pour la recherche strat茅gique () held at the 脡cole militaire in Paris, France. In his address before a gathering of government officials, military strategists and policy makers, Professor Jakhu promoted the need for a manual to clarify the rule of law and cement peace and security in the outer space frontier. Both events were well-attended and sparked great interest in the MILAMOS Project amongst stakeholders and also the general public.
In March 2016, the MILAMOS Project was presented to a group of around 50 government officials, military personnel, academics and members of the public in New Delhi, India.
The event was part of the Symposium on 鈥溾�� co-organised by the Institute of Air and Space Law, the International Foundation for Aviation, Aerospace & Development, India Chapter () and the India International Centre.
The presentation, which outlined the importance and rationale behind manuals in general, and the timeliness and need for such a manual to regulate military activities in outer space, was well-received.
Expert Roundtable on International Law Applicable to Military Activities in Outer Space, 10-11 September 2015
In September 2015, a Group of Experts met for the first time at 香蕉视频, in Montreal, Canada. It was the first gathering of its kind to discuss an ambitious undertaking such as the MILAMOS Project.
The meeting was attended by numerous interested parties from across the world, including experts in international humanitarian law, military space operations, governmental space policy and space law from different States. The attendance of subject-matter experts, policy-makers and representatives from the International Committee of the Red Cross underlines the significant international interest in and originality of this project.
The discussions from the meeting made clear this project is timely, necessary and critical. There was a clear consensus on the urgent need to clarify the rules of international law applicable outer space activities 鈥� particularly the prohibition on the use of force and the application international humanitarian law, and how these well-established norms would apply in the space domain.
In order to reduce conflict and constrain State behaviour in the case of a conflict in or through outer space, it was commonly agreed that a neutral document, in the form of a manual clarifying the rules of international law applicable to military and security activities in outer space, is essential. The Group of Experts agreed that a collective of international scholars and experts acting in their individual capacity is necessary to ensure the widespread participation, neutrality and legal objectivity of such a manual, and that steps must be put in place to move the project forward.
The event was made possible with the support of the Government of Canada and the Erin J.C. Arsenault Fund at 香蕉视频.