Disaster Management And Outer Space: Legal Tools For Global Humanitarian Aid
- IJLLR Journal
- Jun 7
- 2 min read
Avijith A V, Research Scholar, School of Law, Hindustan Institute of Technology and Science, Chennai.
ABSTRACT
The increasing occurrence and severity of natural and human-made disasters worldwide have highlighted the critical need for strong and coordinated international disaster management efforts. In this evolving landscape, space- based technologies—especially those reliant on satellites—have emerged as critical tools for improving disaster preparedness, emergency response, and post-disaster recovery. Satellite systems offer essential functionalities such as early warning mechanisms, real-time earth observation, communication infrastructure, and navigation support. Collectively, these capabilities play a pivotal role in mitigating the impact of disasters and enabling timely humanitarian interventions.
However, the international legal architecture governing space activities, primarily developed during the Cold War era, does not adequately address the use of space technology for humanitarian purposes. The absence of explicit legal provisions tailored to disaster-related applications of outer space creates a number of challenges. These include inconsistent access to satellite data, concerns over national sovereignty, ambiguities surrounding legal liability, and significant disparities in the ability of developing nations to benefit from space-based resources.
This paper provides a critical analysis of the relationship between disaster management and the legal regulation of outer space. It examines how existing international legal instruments and collaborative frameworks either support or limit the use of space-based technologies in humanitarian aid. Key treaties like the Outer Space Treaty, the Liability Convention, and the Registration Convention are examined to determine their relevance, scope, and limitations in the realm of disaster response. Additionally, cooperative mechanisms like the International Charter on Space and Major Disasters and the United Nations Platform for Space-based Information for Disaster Management and Emergency Response (UN-SPIDER) are explored as operational examples of international coordination that promote data sharing and capacity building.
