The 33rd session of the UN Inter-agency Meeting on Outer Space Affairs was inaugurated in Geneva, Switzerland this morning. The three-day event is intended for discussion of current and future activities, emergent technologies of interest and other related matters. The meeting issues a report on it deliberations for the consideration of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, the primary UN body that deals with peaceful uses of space and international cooperation in outer space. The meeting also produces, on behalf of the Secretary-General, a report on the coordinated space-related activities of the UN system.
On 12 March 2013 - the first day of the event - a full-day open informal session with participation of Member States was be organized on a theme related to space and disasters. This year's session focuses on "Space and disaster risk reduction: Planning for resilient human settlements".
