Antarctic Treaty Secretariat: Antarctic Treaty Secretariat

The Antarctic Treaty Secretariat is the permanent administrative body of the Antarctic Treaty System (ATS), established in 2004 and headquartered in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Operating under the direction of the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM), the Secretariat supports the implementation of the Antarctic Treaty and its Protocol on Environmental Protection by facilitating cooperation among Treaty Parties, organizing meetings of the ATCM and the Committee for Environmental Protection (CEP), managing information exchange, and maintaining official records and legal instruments. The Secretariat promotes transparency, coordination, and institutional continuity within the Antarctic governance system, helping ensure that all activities in Antarctica are conducted in accordance with the principles of peaceful use, international scientific cooperation, and environmental protection that underpin the Antarctic Treaty.