The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is an international organization that seeks to promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy and to inhibit its use for military purposes. It was established as an autonomous organization on 29 July 1957. Though established independently of the United Nations under its own international treaty (the IAEA Statute), the IAEA reports to both the General Assembly and the Security Council.

The IAEA has its headquarters in Vienna, Austria. Two "Regional Safeguards Offices" are located in Toronto, Canada; and Tokyo, Japan. The IAEA has two liaison offices, located in New York, USA; and Geneva, Switzerland. In addition, it has laboratories in Seibersdorf and Vienna, Austria; Monaco; and Trieste, Italy.

Today, the IAEA serves as an intergovernmental forum for scientific and technical co-operation in the peaceful use of nuclear technology worldwide. The IAEA's programmes encourage the development of the peaceful applications of nuclear technology, provide international safeguards against its misuse, and facilitate the application of safety measures in its use. The organization and its then-Director General, Mohamed ElBaradei, were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize announced on 7 October 2005. Its current head is Yukiya Amano.

History

In 1953, U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower envisioned the creation of this international body to control and develop the use of atomic energy, in his "Atoms for Peace" speech before the UN General Assembly. In September 1954 the United States announced to the United Nations General Assembly a plan to create an international agency to take control of the fissile material being used to create nuclear reactors, establishing a kind of nuclear bank, and the United States called for an international scientific conference on all peaceful aspects of atomic energy. By November 1954 it was clear that the Soviets rejected actual international custody of fissile material, but that a clearing house for nuclear transactions might be possible. From 8 to 20 August 1955 the United Nations held the International Conference on the Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy in Geneva. In 1956 an IAEA Statute Conference was held to draft foundation documents for the IAEA, and the IAEA Statute was completed at a 1957 conference.

In 1986, in response to the Chernobyl disaster, IAEA expanded its nuclear safety efforts.

The IAEA was headed by former Swedish Foreign Minister Hans Blix, who served as Director General from 1981 to 1997. The current Director General is the Egyptian Mohamed ElBaradei, who succeeded Blix and was approved by the 49th General Conference for a third term as Director General, through November 2009.

The Agency and Director General Mohamed ElBaradei were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2005. In Dr. ElBaradei's speech he stated that only 1% of the money spent on developing new weapons would be enough to feed the entire world and that, if we hope to escape self-destruction, then nuclear weapons should have no place in our collective conscience, and no role in our security. Nobel Lecture.

On July 2, 2009, Yukiya Amano was elected as Director General for the IAEA , defeating Abdul Samad Minty of South Africa and Luis E. Echávarri‎ of Spain. On 3 July 2009, the Board of Governors voted to appoint Yukiya Amano "by acclamation," and IAEA General Conference in September 2009 approved. He will take office on 1 December 2009

Structure and function

The IAEA's mission is guided by the interests and needs of Member States, strategic plans and the vision embodied in the IAEA Statute (see below). Three main pillars - or areas of work - underpin the IAEA's mission: Safety and Security; Science and Technology; and Safeguards and Verification.

The IAEA, as an autonomous organization is not under direct control of any United Nations body, but does report to both the General Assembly and the Security Council. Unlike most other specialized agencies, it does not do most of its work with ECOSOC. The IAEA’s structure and function is defined by its founding document: the IAEA’s Statute (see below). The IAEA has three main bodies: the Board of Governors, the General Conference, and the Secretariat.

The Board of Governors is one of two policy making bodies of the IAEA. The Board consists of 13 members designated by the outgoing Board and 22 members elected by the General Conference. The outgoing Board designates the ten members who are the most advanced in atomic energy technology and the remaining three most advanced members from any of the following areas that are not represented by the first ten: North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Africa, Middle East and South Asia, South East Asia, the Pacific, and the Far East. These members are designated for one year terms. The General Conference elects 22 members from the remaining nations to two year terms. Eleven are elected each year. The 22 elected members must also represent a stipulated geographic diversity (Statute). The current Board members are: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Canada, China, Cuba, Ecuador, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, India, Iraq, Ireland, Japan, Lithuania, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Philippines, Romania, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Uruguay (IAEA Board of Governors 2008–2009).

The Board, in its five yearly meetings, is responsible for making most of the policy of the IAEA. The Board makes recommendations to the General Conference on IAEA activities and budget, is responsible for publishing IAEA standards and appoints the Director General subject to General Conference approval (IAEA Fundamentals 2005). Board members each receive one vote. Budget matters require a two-thirds majority. All other matters require only a simple majority. The simple majority also has the power to stipulate issues that will thereafter require a two-thirds majority. Two-thirds of all Board members must be present to call a vote (IAEA Board of Governors 1989).

The General Conference (GC) is the highest policymaking body of the IAEA. The GC is made up of all 150 member states. The GC meets once a year, typically in September, to approve the actions and budgets passed on from the Board of Governors. The GC also approves the nominee for Director General and requests reports from the Board on issues in question (Statute). Each member receives one vote. Issues of budget, Statute amendment and suspension of a member’s privileges require a two- thirds majority and all other issues require a simple majority. Similar to the Board, the GC can, by simple majority, designate issues to require a two- thirds majority. The GC elects a President at each annual in order to facilitate an effective meeting. The President only serves for the duration of the session (Statute).

The main function of the GC is to serve as a forum for debate on current issues and policies. Any of the other IAEA organs, the Director General, the Board and member states can table issues to be discussed by the GC (IAEA Primer). This function of the GC is almost identical to the General Assembly of the United Nations.

The Secretariat is the professional and general service staff of the IAEA. The Secretariat is headed by the Director General. The Director General, currently Dr. Mohamed ElBaradei, is responsible for enforcement of the actions passed by the Board of Governors and the GC. The Director General is selected by the Board and approved by the GC for renewable four year terms. The Director General oversees six departments that do the actual work in carrying out the policies of the IAEA: Nuclear Energy, Nuclear Safety and Security, Nuclear Sciences and Applications, Safeguards, Technical Cooperation, and Management. Dr. ElBaradei, together with the IAEA as an institution, won the 2005 Nobel Peace Prize.

The IAEA budget is two-part. The regular budget funds most activities of the IAEA and is assessed to each member nation (€296 million in 2009). The Technical Cooperation Fund is funded by voluntary contributions with a general target in the $85 million range.

The process of joining the IAEA is fairly simple. A State must notify the Director General of its desire to join. The Director then submits the request to the Board for consideration. If the State is approved by the Board, the GC must then consider the State. When the State receives final approval for membership, it must then submit its signed acceptance of the IAEA’s Statute. The State is considered a member when its acceptance letter is deposited; the IAEA’s other members are subsequently notified of the new member.

In 2004 IAEA developed a Programme of Action for Cancer Therapy (PACT). PACT responds to the needs of developing countries to establish, improve, or expand radiotherapy treatment programs and is raising funds to help countries save lives and reduce suffering of cancer victims.[2009]

The IAEA exists to pursue “safe, secure and peaceful uses of nuclear sciences and technology” (Pillars 2005). The IAEA pursues this mission with three main functions: inspections of existing nuclear facilities to ensure peaceful use, information and standards to ensure the stability of nuclear facilities, and as a hub for the sciences seeking peaceful applications of nuclear technology.

To enhance information and experience sharing among Member States on seismic safety of nuclear installations, the Agency in 2008 established the International Seismic Safety Centre. ISSC is establishing Safety Standards and providing for their application in relation to site selection, site evaluation and seismic design.

Membership

The Holy See and many of the UN members are parties of the IAEA.

Not participating are: Countries that have withdrawn from the IAEA are:

• (1958–2003)
• (1974–1994)

List of Directors General

Nationality and name	Duration
W. Sterling Cole	1957–1961
Sigvard Eklund	1961–1981
Hans Blix	1981–1997
Mohamed ElBaradei	1997–2009
Yukiya Amano	2009-Present

See also

• IAEA Areas
• Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty
• United Nations Atomic Energy Commission
• Programme budgeting
• Institute of Nuclear Materials Management
• Proliferation Security Initiative
• Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism
• Programme of Action for Cancer Therapy

References

Notes

Works cited

• Board of Governors rules
• Board of Governors
• Process of becoming a member state of the IAEA
• Statute of the IAEA
• IAEA Primer
• Pillars of nuclear cooperation 2005
• Nobel Lecture
• Radiation Protection of Patients

External links

• IAEA website
• NUCLEUS - The IAEA Nuclear Knowledge and Information Portal
• Official IAEA YouTube channel
• In Focus : IAEA and Iran
• IAEA Bulletin
• History of the International Atomic Energy Agency : the first forty years, David Fischer, 1997, ISBN 92-0-102397-9
• A Pictorial History of "Atoms for Peace", ISBN 978-92-0-103807-4
• Programme of Action for Cancer Therapy (PACT) - Comprehensive Cancer Control Information and Fighting Cancer in Developing Countries
• Video Interviews with Diplomats and NGOs from Non-Proliferation Treaty Conferences concerning nuclear non-proliferation