Antarctica

Antarctica is the earth's only continent without a

native human population. It is defined as all of the land and ice shelves south of 60 degree South latitude. It is a continent made of a huge ice-covered landmass. No country has sovereign rights over Antarctica. Because of this many countries including USA invade the continent & made there own colonies in Antarctica .

Antarctica

The Antarctic Treaty System

Based on these facts the legal regime that has

developed over time is in many ways unique. The Antarctic Treaty was finally signed on December 1, 1959 by twelve nations, and came into force on June 23, 1961, eventually signed by 47 countries.

Antarctic Treaty System

The Antarctic Treaty and related agreements,

collectively called the Antarctic Treaty System or ATS, regulate international relations with respect to Antarctica.

ATS
Antarctica is governed by the Antarctic Treaty

System(ATS), which is the only legal regime which manages an entire continent The treaty comprised some 14 Articles that the nations were prepared to agree upon for successful coexistence in the Antarctic. It sets aside Antarctica as a scientific preserve, establishes freedom of scientific investigation and bans military activity on that continent.

 The AT "shall apply to the area south of 60 South

Latitude, including all ice shelves" and its main objective is that of ensuring in the interests of all mankind that Antarctica shall continue forever to be used exclusively for peaceful purposes and shall not become the scene or object of international discord . The Antarctic Treaty Secretariat headquarters have been located in Buenos Aires, Argentina, since September 2004.

Agreements
The Antarctic Treaty System is the legal regime governing

interstate relations with regards to Antarctica, and it is comprised of 5 main Agreements: 1.The Antarctic Treaty (AT); 2.The Conventions for the Conservation of Antarctic Seals(CCAS); 3.The Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources(CCAMLR)

4.The Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic

Treaty(Madrid Protocol). 5.A fifth agreement, the Convention on the Regulation of Antarctic Mineral Resource Activities(CRAMRA), has never entered into force.

The 14 Articles of the Treaty

1. Antarctica shall be used for peaceful purposes only;

any military measures are prohibited. 2. Freedom of scientific investigation in Antarctica. 3. Plans for scientific programs and the observations and results thereof shall be freely exchanged; scientists may be exchanged between expeditions. 4. All national claims are held static from the date of signature. No future activity of any country during the life of the treaty can affect the status on any rights or claims to territorial sovereignty.

 5. Nuclear explosions and disposal of radioactive waste

are prohibited in Antarctica. 6. The provision of the Treaty applies to the area south of 60 degree S. 7/8. Any contracting party may appoint observers. They shall have complete freedom of access at any time to any area of Antarctica, with the right to inspect any other nation's buildings, installations, equipment, ships or aircraft or to carry out aerial observations.

 9. Regular consultative meetings of the active

signatory nations shall be held. 10. Contracting parties shall ensure that no activity contrary to the Treaty is carried out. 11. Any disputes between contracting parties shall be resolved by peaceful negotiation, in the last resort by the International Court of Justice. 12. The Treaty shall remain in force for a minimum of 30 years. 13/14. These articles provide the legal details of ratification and deposit.

Signatories
The 47 countries which have become signatories to the

Antarctic Treaty represent over 80 per cent of the world's population, including the super powers as well as many developed and developing nations. There are several levels of membership of the Antarctic Treaty: currently there are 25 full "Consultative Parties", nations which are engaged in substantial scientific research activity.

Members

Conclusion
The ATS has been able to make through an

incremental approach to environmental protection significant contributions to international law and provided an advanced model of environmental regime.