An electronic guide to the Secretariat of the Antarctic Treaty systems and information sources

The website of the Secretariat of the Antarctic Treaty is the main source of information regarding the Antarctic Treaty system. The home page provides access to information on the two fundamental institutions of the system: the Antarctic Treaty itself and the Committee for Environmental Protection. At the bottom of each page of the site you will find the access to this guide, contact information and the site map, as well as buttons for selecting the language and the copyright and liability notice. The website is organized into five main sections: About, Environmental Protection, Meetings, Information Exchange, and Data. The site has been developed in such a way that almost all areas are directly and openly accessible from the menu bar at the top of all pages. Most pages include introductory and explanatory texts and, in some cases, additional navigation bars. At the bottom of many pages there are boxes containing shortcuts to additional documentation, databases and related sites. Most of the information provided on the website is publicly accessible. All sections with restricted access contain an explanation on how to obtain entry credentials if appropriate. Enter

The website of the Secretariat of the Antarctic Treaty is the main source of information regarding the Antarctic Treaty system.

The home page provides access to information on the two fundamental institutions of the system: the Antarctic Treaty itself and the Committee for Environmental Protection.

At the bottom of each page of the site you will find the access to this guide, contact information and the site map, as well as buttons for selecting the language and the copyright and liability notice.

The website is organized into five main sections: About, Environmental Protection, Meetings, Information Exchange, and Data. The site has been developed in such a way that almost all areas are directly and openly accessible from the menu bar at the top of all pages. Most pages include introductory and explanatory texts and, in some cases, additional navigation bars. At the bottom of many pages there are boxes containing shortcuts to additional documentation, databases and related sites. Most of the information provided on the website is publicly accessible. All sections with restricted access contain an explanation on how to obtain entry credentials if appropriate.

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Parties to the Antarctic Treaty System and their status A list of all Consultative and non-Consultative Parties together with their Treaty, CEP (Committee for Environmental Protection), CCAS (Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Seals) and CCAMLR (Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources and/or Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources) status, as well as links to their websites. Enter
Key documents of the Antarctic Treaty System This section provides access to two publications: - Compilation of key documents of the Antarctic Treaty System: This publication includes the Antarctic Treaty itself, the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty, the Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR), the Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Seals (CCAS) and the main regulations for the Secretariat of the Antarctic Treaty. - Rules of Procedure of the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting and the Committee for Environmental Protection: Updated annually, this publication also includes listings of the Antarctic Meetings and of the countries that participate in the Antarctic Treaty System. Enter
Treaty Database This is the legal database of the Treaty and contains the texts of all Recommendations, Measures, Decisions and Resolutions, and other measures adopted by the ATCM (Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting) together with their attachments and information on their legal status. Its contents are continuously updated by the Secretariat staff, based on information received from Parties and the Depositary Government of the Antarctic Treaty. Enter
Inspections This database contains details of all inspections carried out by Parties since 1962 under Article VII of the Treaty and Article 14 of the Protocol, as well as links to the available inspection reports and other documents discussed at the ATCM in relation with the inspections. Enter

Parties to the Antarctic Treaty System and their status

A list of all Consultative and non-Consultative Parties together with their Treaty, CEP (Committee for Environmental Protection), CCAS (Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Seals) and CCAMLR (Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources and/or Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources) status, as well as links to their websites.

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Key documents of the Antarctic Treaty System

This section provides access to two publications:

- Compilation of key documents of the Antarctic Treaty System: This publication includes the Antarctic Treaty itself, the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty, the Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR), the Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Seals (CCAS) and the main regulations for the Secretariat of the Antarctic Treaty.

- Rules of Procedure of the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting and the Committee for Environmental Protection: Updated annually, this publication also includes listings of the Antarctic Meetings and of the countries that participate in the Antarctic Treaty System.

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Treaty Database

This is the legal database of the Treaty and contains the texts of all Recommendations, Measures, Decisions and Resolutions, and other measures adopted by the ATCM (Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting) together with their attachments and information on their legal status. Its contents are continuously updated by the Secretariat staff, based on information received from Parties and the Depositary Government of the Antarctic Treaty.

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Inspections

This database contains details of all inspections carried out by Parties since 1962 under Article VII of the Treaty and Article 14 of the Protocol, as well as links to the available inspection reports and other documents discussed at the ATCM in relation with the inspections.

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ATCM / CEP Contact Points Recommendation XIII-1 (Brussels, 1985) distinguishes two main types of contact points: One to deal with Treaty matters (referred to in Paragraph 3 of the Recommendation) and one to deal with scientific data (Paragraph 5). The Environment Protocol establishes a third main contact known as the CEP Representative. Enter The system has been incorporating additional types of contact points such as National Competent Authorities, experts on Tourism, Legal & Institutional matters, search and rescue (SAR), etc. These can be assigned using the Contacts Database (below).
Contacts Database This restricted database contains the contact information of all participants in the Antarctic Treaty System and allows authorized users to browse contact information of all parties, manage contact data and assign access permissions for contacts of their own party. In order to access these data you will need an individual username assigned by your party’s Contact Administrator. Each Party or organization designates one or more Contact Administrators who are entitled to modify data in the Antarctic Treaty Contacts Database. They are also responsible for the assignment of access levels and roles of other users in their own Party or organization. Enter

ATCM / CEP Contact Points

Recommendation XIII-1 (Brussels, 1985) distinguishes two main types of contact points: One to deal with Treaty matters (referred to in Paragraph 3 of the Recommendation) and one to deal with scientific data (Paragraph 5). The Environment Protocol establishes a third main contact known as the CEP Representative.

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The system has been incorporating additional types of contact points such as National Competent Authorities, experts on Tourism, Legal & Institutional matters, search and rescue (SAR), etc. These can be assigned using the Contacts Database (below).

Contacts Database

This restricted database contains the contact information of all participants in the Antarctic Treaty System and allows authorized users to browse contact information of all parties, manage contact data and assign access permissions for contacts of their own party. In order to access these data you will need an individual username assigned by your party’s Contact Administrator. Each Party or organization designates one or more Contact Administrators who are entitled to modify data in the Antarctic Treaty Contacts Database. They are also responsible for the assignment of access levels and roles of other users in their own Party or organization.

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List of Past Meetings A list of all the past meetings of the Treaty including Diplomatic Conferences, Meetings of Experts and Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings (both regular and special). By clicking on each meeting, you can access submitted documents as well as the Final Report, Measures, Decisions and Resolutions adopted at that meeting. Enter If there is an Upcoming Meetings section already established you will be able to access it by clicking on the meeting name.
Final Reports A list of all Final Reports from the meetings. Enter
Meeting Documents A searchable database of all the working documents submitted to the meetings. Enter

List of Past Meetings

A list of all the past meetings of the Treaty including Diplomatic Conferences, Meetings of Experts and Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings (both regular and special). By clicking on each meeting, you can access submitted documents as well as the Final Report, Measures, Decisions and Resolutions adopted at that meeting.

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If there is an Upcoming Meetings section already established you will be able to access it by clicking on the meeting name.

Final Reports

A list of all Final Reports from the meetings.

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Meeting Documents

A searchable database of all the working documents submitted to the meetings.

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If the Upcoming Meeting section is already established for the next meeting (usually four months in advance) you will be able to access it from the home page or from the list of meetings. If you are a delegate to the meeting, look for the Information for Delegates link which will give you access to submitted documents (Working Papers, Information Papers, Secretariat Papers and Background Papers). This section also contains the Delegates list and the Secretariat Notes from the Host Country Secretariat. All of these sections are password-protected, and login details are distributed to delegates and contact points. Registration Three months in advance of each meeting, online registration becomes available in the Upcoming Meetings section. Only the Contact Administrators of each Party or organization can register delegates for the Meeting. Paper Submission Documents should be sent to the specific email address established by the Secretariat prior to every Meeting. Please read the Manual for the submission of documents included in the Upcoming Meetings section. This Manual explains the different types of documents and includes templates and tips on how to handle styles and illustrations. It also provides a reminder of deadlines and basic information you should not forget to include in your paper.

If the Upcoming Meeting section is already established for the next meeting (usually four months in advance) you will be able to access it from the home page or from the list of meetings. If you are a delegate to the meeting, look for the Information for Delegates link which will give you access to submitted documents (Working Papers, Information Papers, Secretariat Papers and Background Papers). This section also contains the Delegates list and the Secretariat Notes from the Host Country Secretariat. All of these sections are password-protected, and login details are distributed to delegates and contact points.

Registration

Three months in advance of each meeting, online registration becomes available in the Upcoming Meetings section. Only the Contact Administrators of each Party or organization can register delegates for the Meeting.

Paper Submission

Documents should be sent to the specific email address established by the Secretariat prior to every Meeting. Please read the Manual for the submission of documents included in the Upcoming Meetings section. This Manual explains the different types of documents and includes templates and tips on how to handle styles and illustrations. It also provides a reminder of deadlines and basic information you should not forget to include in your paper.

Exchange Requirements Article VII of the Treaty requires each Party to freely exchange information about its activities, giving advance notice of: all expeditions to and within Antarctica, on the part of its ships or nationals, and all expeditions to Antarctica organized in or proceeding from its territory; all stations in Antarctica occupied by its nationals; and any military personnel or equipment intended to be introduced by it into Antarctica. This requirement was later elaborated in various measures of the ATCM, and the Environment Protocol of 1991 added important information exchange obligations on environmental matters. Enter All information provided by the Parties is publicly available in the Information Exchange section of the website. Data are organized into three categories: Permanent Information, Pre-Season Information and Annual Reports, publicly available in the following sections. latest reports archived information
Summarized Reports There is also a Summarized Reports section which provides cross-party reports on various categories. Enter
Access to EIES (Electronic Information Exchange System) Under the direction of the ATCM the Secretariat has developed an Electronic Information Exchange System (EIES) as a central repository for the information described above. Usernames and passwords for entry into the EIES should be assigned by the Contact Administrators of each country, using the AT Contact Database. User Guide Enter EIES

Exchange Requirements

Article VII of the Treaty requires each Party to freely exchange information about its activities, giving advance notice of: all expeditions to and within Antarctica, on the part of its ships or nationals, and all expeditions to Antarctica organized in or proceeding from its territory; all stations in Antarctica occupied by its nationals; and any military personnel or equipment intended to be introduced by it into Antarctica. This requirement was later elaborated in various measures of the ATCM, and the Environment Protocol of 1991 added important information exchange obligations on environmental matters.

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All information provided by the Parties is publicly available in the Information Exchange section of the website. Data are organized into three categories: Permanent Information, Pre-Season Information and Annual Reports, publicly available in the following sections.

latest reports

archived information

Summarized Reports

There is also a Summarized Reports section which provides cross-party reports on various categories.

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Access to EIES (Electronic Information Exchange System)

Under the direction of the ATCM the Secretariat has developed an Electronic Information Exchange System (EIES) as a central repository for the information described above. Usernames and passwords for entry into the EIES should be assigned by the Contact Administrators of each country, using the AT Contact Database.

User Guide

Enter EIES

EIA Database This database contains information on Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) conducted and publicly distributed by Parties. To submit information to the database you need an EIES username and password. Enter EIA Database Submit EIA
APA Database (Protected Areas and Historic Sites and Monuments) This database contains the texts of the management plans for Antarctic Specially Protected Areas and Antarctic Specially Managed Areas as well as their legal status, location in the Antarctic continent, and a brief summary of the purpose of designation. The database also contains information related to the list and location of Historic Sites and Monuments in Antarctica. Enter
Committee for Environmental Protection This page is the portal to information and documents related to the work of the Committee, including guidelines and procedures for protecting the Antarctic environment, useful documents for delegates participating in CEP Meetings, and a vast array of information about the protection of the Antarctic environment. Enter CEP Workspace: This section contains relevant information for CEP members or persons authorized by the CEP Representative of each Party or organization. Enter CEP Forum: For CEP Members only. Enter

EIA Database

This database contains information on Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) conducted and publicly distributed by Parties. To submit information to the database you need an EIES username and password.

Enter EIA Database

Submit EIA

APA Database (Protected Areas and Historic Sites and Monuments)

This database contains the texts of the management plans for Antarctic Specially Protected Areas and Antarctic Specially Managed Areas as well as their legal status, location in the Antarctic continent, and a brief summary of the purpose of designation. The database also contains information related to the list and location of Historic Sites and Monuments in Antarctica.

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Committee for Environmental Protection

This page is the portal to information and documents related to the work of the Committee, including guidelines and procedures for protecting the Antarctic environment, useful documents for delegates participating in CEP Meetings, and a vast array of information about the protection of the Antarctic environment.

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CEP Workspace: This section contains relevant information for CEP members or persons authorized by the CEP Representative of each Party or organization.

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CEP Forum: For CEP Members only.

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Site Guidelines for Visitors A list of site-specific guidelines for visitors issued by the ATCM and updated regularly. Enter
Search and Rescue (SAR) and national competent authorities The Antarctic Treaty Parties regularly provide contact details of national competent authorities and relevant Maritime Rescue Coordination Centres. National Competent Authorities SAR Coordination Centres (COMNAP Site)

Site Guidelines for Visitors

A list of site-specific guidelines for visitors issued by the ATCM and updated regularly.

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Search and Rescue (SAR) and national competent authorities

The Antarctic Treaty Parties regularly provide contact details of national competent authorities and relevant Maritime Rescue Coordination Centres.

Key science priorities This section highlights the key science priorities of the National Antarctic Programmes, to make them easily accessible to Parties and the public. This information is provided by each National Antarctic Programme and includes a summary, links to additional sources of information, contact details and photos. Enter

Key science priorities

This section highlights the key science priorities of the National Antarctic Programmes, to make them easily accessible to Parties and the public. This information is provided by each National Antarctic Programme and includes a summary, links to additional sources of information, contact details and photos.

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Intersessional Activites Both the ATCM and the CEP maintain intersessional activities through workspaces with access for officials and delegates of the Antarctic Treaty Parties and organizations. Access credentials depend on the role of each user within their Party or organization. If you have any questions about the roles assigned to your profile, please contact the Contact Administrator of your Party or organization. ATCM Workspace CEP Workspace Forums The Secretariat maintains two discussion forums (one for the ATCM and one for the CEP) on which parties conduct intersessional work. Each Party or organization is assigned a specific username and password to access these forums. ATCM Forum CEP Forum

Intersessional Activites

Both the ATCM and the CEP maintain intersessional activities through workspaces with access for officials and delegates of the Antarctic Treaty Parties and organizations. Access credentials depend on the role of each user within their Party or organization. If you have any questions about the roles assigned to your profile, please contact the Contact Administrator of your Party or organization.

ATCM Workspace

CEP Workspace

Forums

The Secretariat maintains two discussion forums (one for the ATCM and one for the CEP) on which parties conduct intersessional work. Each Party or organization is assigned a specific username and password to access these forums.

Map Library The Secretariat has developed a map gallery using ArcGIS Online. It comprises four maps displaying geographical information regarding the number of permits to enter protected areas, number and activities of visitors to the Antarctic, inspections to Antarctic facilities, and environmental impact assessments in the Antarctic Treaty Area. Enter
Image Bank Representative photographs of the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings, the Committee for Environmental Protection, and the events associated with them since the signing of the Antarctic Treaty in 1959. The page also provides images of the field work carried out by the Parties in Antarctica, in pursuit of compliance with the regulations established by the ATCM and the CEP and institutional videos provided by the Parties. Enter
ATS Library The ATS Library provides an online catalogue of the publications in the Secretariat and a digital set of documents concerning Antarctic legislation, policy and programs. Enter
Léxico de la STA This lexicon contains the set of ATCM approved terms in the four official languages of the Antarctic Treaty. Enter
Links This section presents relevant links to the websites of public and private organizations dedicated to the dissemination of information related to Antarctica, grouped by topic. Enter

Map Library

The Secretariat has developed a map gallery using ArcGIS Online. It comprises four maps displaying geographical information regarding the number of permits to enter protected areas, number and activities of visitors to the Antarctic, inspections to Antarctic facilities, and environmental impact assessments in the Antarctic Treaty Area.

Enter

Image Bank

Representative photographs of the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings, the Committee for Environmental Protection, and the events associated with them since the signing of the Antarctic Treaty in 1959. The page also provides images of the field work carried out by the Parties in Antarctica, in pursuit of compliance with the regulations established by the ATCM and the CEP and institutional videos provided by the Parties.

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ATS Library

The ATS Library provides an online catalogue of the publications in the Secretariat and a digital set of documents concerning Antarctic legislation, policy and programs.

Enter

Léxico de la STA

This lexicon contains the set of ATCM approved terms in the four official languages of the Antarctic Treaty.

Enter

About the Secretariat This section provides information about the Secretariat, its main functions, its staff, a short chronology from its establishment and the Executive Secretaries. Enter
News and Events An event calendar including relevant events and regular meetings of the Antarctic Treaty System, and a selection of news related to the Antarctic Treaty, including outstanding scientific developments, the activities of the Secretariat and announcements of the development of new tools and resources on the Secretariat’s website. Enter
Twitter Periodically and regularly the Secretariat disseminates tweets related to topics of Antarctic interest, activities of the Secretariat or personalities from around the world linked to Antarctica. AntarcticTreaty@
Contact Please refer to the contact information provided in the Contact section of our website if you would like to contact one of our staff directly. Otherwise please contact us at info@antarctictreaty.org. Phone and fax numbers and our postal address can also be found in the Contact section. Enter

About the Secretariat

This section provides information about the Secretariat, its main functions, its staff, a short chronology from its establishment and the Executive Secretaries.

Enter

News and Events

An event calendar including relevant events and regular meetings of the Antarctic Treaty System, and a selection of news related to the Antarctic Treaty, including outstanding scientific developments, the activities of the Secretariat and announcements of the development of new tools and resources on the Secretariat’s website.

Enter

Twitter

Periodically and regularly the Secretariat disseminates tweets related to topics of Antarctic interest, activities of the Secretariat or personalities from around the world linked to Antarctica.

AntarcticTreaty@

Contact

Please refer to the contact information provided in the Contact section of our website if you would like to contact one of our staff directly. Otherwise please contact us at info@antarctictreaty.org. Phone and fax numbers and our postal address can also be found in the Contact section.

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ATS Resources Guide