HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE ERA OF SPACE EXPLORATION: LEGAL FRAMEWORKS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18623/rvd.v23.n4.4466Keywords:
Human Rights in Space, Extraterritorial Application, International Space Law, Corporate Accountability, Outer Space TreatyAbstract
As commercial space activities surge and plans for permanent extraterrestrial settlements advance, a critical gap has emerged in international law: the absence of enforceable human rights protections for individuals operating beyond Earth. This article examines whether existing international human rights treaties apply extraterritorially to outer space and what obligations exist for states and private actors under current space law. Through doctrinal legal analysis of international treaties, case law, and scholarly commentary, this research reveals that while foundational space law instruments—including the Outer Space Treaty (1967), the Rescue Agreement (1968), and the Moon Agreement (1979)—establish principles of peaceful cooperation and state responsibility, they lack explicit human rights protections essential for addressing contemporary challenges. These challenges include labor rights for space workers, equitable resource allocation, corporate accountability, and protection against exploitation in isolated extraterrestrial environments. Drawing on extraterritorial human rights jurisprudence, particularly from the European Court of Human Rights in Al-Skeini v United Kingdom and the International Court of Justice's advisory opinions, this article argues that human rights obligations follow states beyond terrestrial boundaries wherever they exercise effective control or authority. The article proposes concrete legal reforms, including amendments to existing space treaties, establishment of a UN Human Rights in Space Commission, and development of a Space Human Rights Convention to ensure that fundamental dignities, freedoms, and protections recognized on Earth extend equally to orbit, the Moon, and Mars.
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