Gender, Space and Security: The Application of the Women, Peace and Security Agenda to Outer Space Activities

In the twenty-five years since its adoption, the United Nations Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Agenda has become a cornerstone for advancing women’s human rights and integrating gender perspectives into the field of peace and security. Recently, attention has turned to its potential application to non-traditional domains, including outer space. As space evolves into an increasingly interconnected, competitive, and contested environment – inter alia, deeply affected by technological, geopolitical, and security factors – space-based systems underpin critical civilian and defence infrastructures, yet their governance and security frameworks remain largely gender-blind. Mainstreaming gender perspectives in this sector thus emerges as a valuable means to enhance inclusivity, legitimacy, and effectiveness. It could also foster greater understanding and awareness of space-related risks and threats that may disproportionately affect women and girls in conflict and crisis contexts, while strengthen civilian protection. Building on the norma- tive opening offered by UN Security Council Resolution 2242 (2015), as well as on the principles and rules of the international law governing outer space activities, this chapter argues that the WPS Agenda provides a meaningful framework for promoting peaceful, inclusive, and sustainable space activities. It investigates both the traditional marginalisation and emerging relevance of the gender perspective in outer space – with particular attention to space security and to the security and defence activities that space supports – exploring how space technologies and policies intersect with the core pillars of the Agenda. The contribution also reflects on the role that international law can play in encouraging the adoption of a gender-sensitive approach. It concludes by outlining cur- rent States commitments in this field and reflecting on the next steps required to effectively advance the integration of the gender perspective into space security.