Among the resolutions adopted by the UN General Assembly in its 76th session, six recent resolutions are concerned with outer space activities. These resolutions are: A/RES/76/22 (prevention of an arms race in outer space), A/RES/76/23 (no first placement of weapons in outer space), A/RES/76/55 (transparency and confidence-building measures in outer space activities), A/RES/76/76 (international cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space), A/RES/76/230 (further practical measures for the prevention of an arms race in outer space), and A/RES/76/231 (reducing space threats through norms, rules and principles of responsible behaviours). 

 With the exception of A/RES/76/76, these resolutions are based on reports (here, and here) of the First Committee on Disarmament and International Security. The European Space Policy Institute (ESPI) has published an Executive Brief on the reports of the First Committee. Disappointed in the non-binding nature of the envisaged measures and in the disgress from the traditional treaty-based approach, a number of states, among them China and Russia, ultimately abstained from voting or voted against the draft resolutions. While this focus on non-binding rules may certainly be controversial, ESPI points out that this compromise is an important first step on the way to an updated legal framework.