Revised Rules of Procedure for the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting
The Representatives,
Recalling Decision 2 (2016) Revised Rules of Procedure for the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting;
Recalling that, at Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (“ATCM”) XLV (2023), the Secretariat of the Antarctic Treaty (“the Secretariat”) was tasked to review, within existing resources, all relevant Antarctic Treaty documents pertaining to current and future cooperation, to provide options for potential adoption by the ATCM that would ensure gender-neutral language across these documents;
Noting that the Secretariat has reviewed the current Rules of Procedure for the ATCM and has prepared draft Revised Rules of Procedure for the ATCM, in each of the official languages of the Antarctic Treaty, to address inconsistencies identified with the United Nations Guidelines for gender-inclusive language (“UN Guidelines”);
Desiring to replace, at this time, only the current English language version of the Rules of Procedure for the ATCM;
Further desiring to submit the French, Russian and Spanish versions of the draft Revised Rules of Procedure for the ATCM for proof-reading to ensure that the substance of their current provisions has not been altered;
Recognising the need to provide guidance to the Secretariat concerning its editorial procedures in respect of gender-inclusive language;
Decide:
1. that the Revised Rules of Procedure for the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting annexed to this Decision replace the Revised Rules of Procedure for the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (2016) in the English language only;
2. to request the Secretariat to send the French, Russian and Spanish versions of the draft Revised Rules of Procedure for the ATCM for proof-reading to be presented for consideration to the 47th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting;
3. that the Secretariat will take into account the UN Guidelines in its standard editorial procedures; and
4. that the Secretariat will include a link to the UN Guidelines in the online guidance it provides on the preparation of documents, as a resource for delegates.
The Representatives,
Recalling Decision 2 (2016) Revised Rules of Procedure for the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting;
Recalling that, at Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (“ATCM”) XLV (2023), the Secretariat of the Antarctic Treaty (“the Secretariat”) was tasked to review, within existing resources, all relevant Antarctic Treaty documents pertaining to current and future cooperation, to provide options for potential adoption by the ATCM that would ensure gender-neutral language across these documents;
Noting that the Secretariat has reviewed the current Rules of Procedure for the ATCM and has prepared draft Revised Rules of Procedure for the ATCM, in each of the official languages of the Antarctic Treaty, to address inconsistencies identified with the United Nations Guidelines for gender-inclusive language (“UN Guidelines”);
Desiring to replace, at this time, only the current English language version of the Rules of Procedure for the ATCM;
Further desiring to submit the French, Russian and Spanish versions of the draft Revised Rules of Procedure for the ATCM for proof-reading to ensure that the substance of their current provisions has not been altered;
Recognising the need to provide guidance to the Secretariat concerning its editorial procedures in respect of gender-inclusive language;
Decide:
1. that the Revised Rules of Procedure for the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting annexed to this Decision replace the Revised Rules of Procedure for the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (2016) in the English language only;
2. to request the Secretariat to send the French, Russian and Spanish versions of the draft Revised Rules of Procedure for the ATCM for proof-reading to be presented for consideration to the 47th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting;
3. that the Secretariat will take into account the UN Guidelines in its standard editorial procedures; and
4. that the Secretariat will include a link to the UN Guidelines in the online guidance it provides on the preparation of documents, as a resource for delegates.
