1 DECEMBER 1959 – ANTARCTIC TREATY SIGNED
The treaty or agreement was signed into action by the leaders of 12 countries who decided the continent of Antarctica should only be used for peaceful, scientific research and purposes. As a result, any military action and the use of weapons and nuclear explosions are forbidden on the continent. The countries included Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Chile, France, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, South Africa, the United Kingdom, United States and USSR (now known as Russia) – but since then a further 42 countries have signed the treaty.
A period of joint scientific research between countries – known as the International Geophysical Year (IGY) – also took place from 1 July 1957 to 31 December 1958. This led to several research bases being established on Antarctica. From there, the countries negotiated on how the treaty should be set up so they could all conduct research peacefully.
After the treaty was signed, members of the South African delegation (pictured) often met with other world leaders to discuss decisions that would affect the Antarctic Treaty System.
Antarctica, surrounded by the Southern Ocean, is the world’s southernmost remote continent and is known as a place of scientific importance. It has no native population and was the last continent to be discovered in 1820 during a Russian expedition led by Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen and Mikhail Lazarev.