The Antarctic Treaty was signed on 1st December 1959 by twelve countries and came into force on 23rd June 1961. It is an international treaty to protect and share the world's only uninhabited continent, Antarctic.
The Treaty forms part of the Antarctic Treaty System, known as the ATS. This is in place to ensure that the Antarctic continent is used for peaceful purposes and no military activity can take place there. It also protects the Antarctic continent as being a scientific preserve and awards countries the rights to undertake scientific investigation for the good of humankind, as opposed to using the region for military purposes.
There are now 45 countries signed up to the Antarctic Treaty with countries such as Estonia, joining in 2001. At its time the Treaty was regarded as quite unique, because although it was devised and came into being during the Cold War, Russia (the USSR) was involved in the Treaty and it was the only treaty involving both East and West which took place during the Cold War.
The Treaty forms part of the Antarctic Treaty System, known as the ATS. This is in place to ensure that the Antarctic continent is used for peaceful purposes and no military activity can take place there. It also protects the Antarctic continent as being a scientific preserve and awards countries the rights to undertake scientific investigation for the good of humankind, as opposed to using the region for military purposes.
There are now 45 countries signed up to the Antarctic Treaty with countries such as Estonia, joining in 2001. At its time the Treaty was regarded as quite unique, because although it was devised and came into being during the Cold War, Russia (the USSR) was involved in the Treaty and it was the only treaty involving both East and West which took place during the Cold War.
