🗓 On December 13, 1958, the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs (#UNOOSA) was established. The Office is responsible for promoting international cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space.

This new body at the UN Secretariat was established following the dawn of the space era, opened with the launch of the Earth’s first artificial satellite by the Soviet Union on October 4, 1957.

🇺🇳 The UNOOSA provides conditions for the operation of the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, which was established by decision of the #UNGA in 1958. The Office:

• maintains the Register of Objects Launched into Outer Space,

• acts as the UN’s coordination centre for requests for satellite images during natural disasters,

• governs the UN Platform for Space-based Information for Disaster Management and Emergency Response.

The OOSA is focused on creating conditions for the use of space for the benefit of the international community. It implements the UN Programme on Space Applications (PSA) and works to improve the use of space science and technology for the economic and social development of all countries, particularly developing countries.

☝️ The UN Office for Outer Space Affairs continues to play a key role in ensuring equal and mutually beneficial cooperation between space powers and developing countries that wish to join in the peaceful uses of outer space.

Our task is to ensure that the highly professional work of the OOSA in the best interests of humanity firmly relies on the principles of political impartiality and respect for all parties to space activities without distinction.

🇷🇺 Russia as the trailblazer in space consistently stands for the peaceful use of space on an equal and non-discriminatory basis. We hope that the international community will make every effort to achieve this noble goal.

🌍 On December 14, 1960, the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples was adopted at the 15th session of the United Nations General Assembly.

The document, which our country vigorously promoted, became a major milestone in eliminating the system of colonial domination of the West over the countries of Africa and Asia.

🇺🇳 As far back as 1945, the Soviet delegation insisted on including in the UN Charter the principles of equal rights and self-determination of peoples, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, without any discrimination based on race, gender, language and religion.

Our country opposed colonialism on international platforms and actively helped African nations in their struggle for independence, supported the national liberation movements in Angola, Ethiopia, Egypt, Mozambique and a number of other countries, as well as played an important role in the formation of new states on the continent.

In 1960, Soviet initiatives aimed at dismantling the colonial system were included in the draft Declaration, which was approved by the overwhelming majority of the countries participating in the UN General Assembly. It contributed to the liberation of approximately 750 million people from colonial oppression and the emergence of more than 80 newly independent states.

❗️ Today, the world still has non-self-governing territories where people have not been able to exercise their inalienable right to self-determination.

Russia is pursuing an active policy aimed at complete elimination of colonialism across the globe. On December 4, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution titled Eradication of Colonialism in All Its Forms and Manifestations, which was drafted by the Group of Friends in Defence of the UN Charter with the guiding role of Russia.

The main goal of that initiative is to ensure the full implementation of the 1960 Declaration and provide for declaring December 14 as an annual International Day against Colonialism in All Its Forms and Manifestations.