International Atomic Energy Agency

International Atomic Energy Agency

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Abbreviation	IAEA
Type	International organization
Headquarters	Vienna, Austria
Membership	175 member states
Director General	Rafael Grossi
Parent organization	United Nations

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 any military purpose, including nuclear weapons. The IAEA was established as an autonomous organization on 29 July 1957. The IAEA's headquarters are in Vienna, Austria. The IAEA has two "Regional Safeguards Offices" which are located in Toronto, Canada, and in Tokyo, Japan. The IAEA also has two liaison offices which are located in New York City, United States, and in Geneva, Switzerland. In addition, the IAEA has laboratories and research centers in Seibersdorf, Austria, Monaco, and Trieste, Italy.

History

The IAEA was created in response to the deep fears and expectations resulting from the discovery of nuclear energy and its diverse uses. The IAEA's genesis was influenced by the Atoms for Peace speech given by U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower to the United Nations General Assembly on 8 December 1953. The IAEA Statute was approved on 23 October 1956 by the Conference on the Statute of the IAEA, held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City. The Statute entered into force on 29 July 1957.

Functions

The IAEA's mission is guided by the interests and needs of Member States, strategic plans, and the vision embodied in the IAEA Statute. The IAEA's key functions include:

• Promoting and assisting the research, development, and practical application of atomic energy for peaceful uses throughout the world.
• Establishing and administering safeguards designed to ensure that such activity assisted by the IAEA is not used to further any military purpose.
• Applying safeguards to relevant activities at the request of Member States.
• Applying, under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and other international treaties, measures designed to verify that nuclear materials are not diverted to nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices.
• Promoting the exchange of scientific and technical information on the peaceful uses of atomic energy.
• Establishing and administering standards of safety for protection of health and minimization of danger to life and property.

Structure

The IAEA is structured into six major departments:

• Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications
• Department of Nuclear Energy
• Department of Nuclear Safety and Security
• Department of Safeguards
• Department of Technical Cooperation
• Department of Management

The IAEA is governed by two policy-making bodies: the Board of Governors and the General Conference. The Board of Governors oversees the ongoing operations of the IAEA and makes recommendations to the General Conference on IAEA activities and budget. The General Conference consists of representatives of all Member States and meets annually to consider and approve the IAEA's budget and program of work.

Membership

As of 2023, the IAEA has 175 Member States. Membership is open to any country that is a member of the United Nations or any of its specialized agencies, or that is a party to the Statute of the International Court of Justice.

Director General

The IAEA is headed by a Director General, who is appointed by the Board of Governors with the approval of the General Conference. The current Director General is Rafael Grossi, who took office on 3 December 2019.

See also

• Nuclear proliferation
• Nuclear power
• Nuclear safety
• Nuclear weapon
• United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs