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IAEA - The International Atomic Energy Agency

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is an organization that has established relationships with the United Nations and is engaged in scientific and technical cooperation in the field of atomic energy by governments of all countries. Headquartered in Vienna, Austria. The organization includes the General Assembly, the Council and the Secretariat.

On March 15, 2011, due to the explosion of multiple units at the Fukushima nuclear power plant caused by the March 11 earthquake in Honshu Island, Japan, the Japanese government has asked the International Atomic Energy Agency for help.


UN Organization Name:    International Atomic Energy Agency

English abbreviation:    IAEA

Headquarters address:    Vienna


Proposed time:    December 1954

Established:    October 26, 1956

Current Director General:    Rafael Mariano Grossi

Member States:    153 (as of February 2012)

Official website:    https://www.iaea.org/


    What is the Institutional History of IAEA?

    In December 1954, the Ninth United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution calling for the establishment of an international agency dedicated to the peaceful uses of atomic energy. 

    After two years of preparation, the Statute Conference, which had 82 countries participating, adopted the Statute of the International Atomic Energy Agency ("Agency") on October 26, 1956.

    On July 29, 1957, the "Statute" came into effect. In October of the same year, the International Atomic Energy Agency held its first plenary meeting to announce the formal establishment of the agency.

    Flag of The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

     

    What is the Institutional purpose of The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)?

    The IAEA institutional purpose is to seek to accelerate and expand the contribution of atomic energy to peace, health and prosperity throughout the world. To ensure that assistance provided by itself, or upon its request, or under its supervision or control is not used for any military purpose.

    What is the Operation Mechanism of The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)?

    The organization of the International Atomic Energy Agency includes the General Assembly.
    The conference is composed of representatives of all member countries and meets once a year. 
    The secretariat is the executive agency and is the leader of the Director General. And the Department of Safeguards.

    Of the 35 members, 11 members are appointed by the IAEA General Assembly for a term of one year. These 11 members are distributed by region, and are served by the countries with the most developed core industries in each region. The other 24 members are elected by the General Assembly, and the two-year term is fixed for each term.

    What is the Organization Composition of The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)?

    The organization of the International Atomic Energy Agency includes the General Assembly, the Council and the Secretariat. The decision-making organs of its statutory IAEA are the General Assembly and the Council. The two agencies jointly determine the Agency’s programme and budget and appoint the Director General of the Agency.

    The IAEA General Assembly

    Consists of all member states. The conference is held once a year, usually in September, for a week. The General Assembly consists of the Committee of the Whole and the General Committee, the latter also having the functions of the Credentials Committee.

    It consists of representatives of all 127 member states of the IAEA and meets once a year.

    The board of directors consists of 35 members and holds 4 meetings a year. 13 of them are designated by the board of directors and 22 are elected by the conference. 

    The council is composed of representatives from 43 countries.
    Council

    The 35-member Council is the highest executive body of the organization; the secretariat is composed of professionals and staff under the leadership of the Director-General.

    The Director-General is appointed by the Council, and 6 Deputy Director-Generals are responsible for 6 independent departments.

    The Scientific Advisory Committee, the Technical Assistance Committee, the Administrative and Budget Committee, and the Security Committee. Convenes an annual assembly of representatives of all member states.

    It consists of 35 members, of which 13 are designated members and 22 are elected members. The designated members are the world ’s most advanced countries in nuclear technology (including raw material production) (10) and 1 relevant region’s most advanced country (3), with a term of one year. But in fact, except for the rotation of designated member states in Western Europe (excluding Britain, Germany, France) and Latin America.

    The other designated members are permanent, because these countries are designated as members every year. China, Britain, France, Russia and the United States are designated members. 

    The principle of balanced distribution of electoral members by region is elected by the General Assembly, with half of the elections re-elected each year for a two-year term. The Council meets four times a year.

    The IAEA Secretariat

    The Secretariat is the executive body, led by the Director General, and consists of the Policy Development Office, the Technical Assistance and Cooperation Division, the Nuclear Energy and Nuclear Safety Division, the Administration Division, the Research and Isotope Division and the Safeguards Division. 

    The headquarters of the agency is located in the Vienna International Center in Vienna, Austria. It has 137 member countries. 

    The most recent 49th Congress (September 26 to September 30, 2005) was held near the headquarters of the agency.

    Technical Officials

    The daily executive office is led by the Director General.
    There are Technical Assistance and Cooperation Division, Nuclear Energy and Nuclear Safety Division, Administration Management Division, Research and Isotope Division, and Safeguard Supervision Department, which are led by five deputy director-generals. 

    There are also three research units

    Seibersdorf Laboratory (Austria), Trieste International Center for Theoretical Physics Research (Italy), and International Marine Radioactivity Laboratory (Monaco). The Director General is appointed by the Council and approved by the General Assembly for a term of four years.
    AEA Institutional functioning Office

    What are the Institutional Functions of IAEA?

    To fulfill these responsibilities, the IAEA has an emergency response center with 24-hour response capabilities, trained staff and communication capabilities with 220 contact points worldwide. 

    The center is also the secretariat of the Inter-Agency Committee to Deal with Nuclear Accidents. This secretariat is the central point for the United Nations system to coordinate countermeasures for nuclear accidents and radiological emergencies.

    Member States have always encouraged the IAEA to prepare guidance opinions to assist countries in planning for possible future return incidents and provide internationally agreed guidance on dealing with such situations. 

    Accordingly, the IAEA published a document on emergency planning and preventive measures for the return of nuclear power source satellites in its Safety Series in 1996. 

    The purpose of this document is to provide a comprehensive overview of the management of accidents or emergencies that may occur when the nuclear power source used by the space system accidentally returns to the Earth’s atmosphere and affects the Earth’s surface. 

    The main object of the document is the government organization responsible for planning for potential radiological emergencies, and in the event of an upcoming incident without any planning, this document can provide a valuable reference for rapid action.

    In view of the Agency’s statutory and legal responsibilities, experience and proven infrastructure, the Agency should be used as a reference point for all activities related to radiation safety in the United Nations system, including those related to outer space activities. 

    In addition, the IAEA is committed to using various resources to promote, facilitate and support cooperation between Contracting States within the scope of its responsibilities under the Aid Convention and Statute. 
    To this end, the IAEA is prepared to provide assistance in the following areas:
    • Collect and disseminate the following information to the Contracting States and Member States
    • Experts, equipment and materials available in the event of a nuclear accident or radiation emergency
    • Methods, technologies and research results that can be used to deal with nuclear accidents or radiation emergencies.
    • Upon receipt of the request, assistance is provided to the Contracting State or Member State in any of the following areas or other appropriate areas
    • Prepare emergency plans and appropriate regulations when nuclear accidents and radiation emergencies occur
    • Develop appropriate training programs for personnel dealing with nuclear accidents and radiation emergencies
    • Transmit assistance requests and related information in the event of a nuclear accident or radiation emergency
    • Develop appropriate radiation monitoring programs, procedures and standards
    • Investigate the feasibility of establishing an appropriate radiation monitoring system
    • Provide appropriate resources allocated to the State Party or Member States requesting assistance in the event of a nuclear accident or radiation emergency for initial assessment of the accident or emergency
    • Mediation of Contracting States and Member States in the event of a nuclear accident or radiation emergency
    • In order to obtain and exchange relevant information and data, establish and maintain liaison with relevant international organizations, and provide a list of these organizations to the Contracting States, Member States and the aforementioned organizations.

    Which are the Member States of The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)?

    The International Atomic Energy Agency stipulates that any country can become a member of the Agency as long as it is recommended by the Agency’s Board of Directors and approved by the General Assembly and deposited with the Agency’s Statute Acceptance Letter.

    As of February 2012, the agency has 153 member countries. Including:
    • United States
    • Jordan
    • Algeria
    • Angola
    • Argentina
    • Armenia
    • Austria
    • China
    • Croatia
    • Estonia
    • Ethiopia
    • Georgia
    • Kenya
    • Latvia, Libya
    • Namibia
    • Russia
    • Uganda
    • Bulgaria
    • Liberia
    • Luxembourg
    • Slovakia
    • Chile
    • Ireland
    • Portugal
    • Australia
    • Israel
    • Niger
    • Venezuela
    • Cuba
    • Ecuador
    • Guatemala
    • Honduras
    • Mexico
    • Peru
    • Afghanistan
    • Albania
    • Azerbaijan
    • Bangladesh
    • Belarus
    • Belgium
    • Belize
    • Benin
    • Bolivia
    • Bosnia and Herzegovina
    • Botswana
    • Brazil
    • Burkina Faso
    • Cameroon
    • Canada
    • Central African Republic
    • Chad
    • Colombia
    • Costa Rica
    • Cyprus
    • Czech Republic
    • Denmark
    • Dominican Republic
    • Egypt
    • El Salvador
    • Eritrea
    • Finland
    • France
    • Gabon
    • Germany
    • Ghana
    • Greece
    • Haiti
    • Hungary
    • Iceland
    • India
    • Indonesia
    • Iran
    • Iraq, Italy
    • Ivory Sea (Republic of Côte d’ Ivoire)
    • Jamaica
    • Japan
    • Kazakhstan
    • Kuwait
    • Kyrgyzstan
    • Lebanon
    • Liechtenstein
    • Lithuania
    • Macedonia
    • Madagascar
    • Malawi
    • Malaysia
    • Mali
    • Malta
    • Marshall Islands
    • Mauritania
    • Mauritius
    • Moldova
    • Monaco
    • Mongolia
    • Montenegro
    • Morocco
    • Mozambique
    • Myanmar
    • Netherlands
    • New Zealand
    • Nicaragua
    • Nigeria
    • Norway
    • Pakistan
    • Palau
    • Panama
    • Paraguay
    • Philippines
    • Poland
    • Qatar
    • Romania
    • Saudi Arabia
    • Senegal
    • Serbia
    • Seychelles
    • Sierra Leone
    • Singapore
    • Slovenia
    • South Africa
    • Spain
    • Sri Lanka
    • Sudan
    • Sweden
    • Switzerland
    • Syria
    • Tajikistan
    • Tanzania
    • Thailand
    • Tunisia
    • Turkey
    • Ukraine
    • United Arab Emirates
    • United Kingdom
    • Uruguay
    • Uzbekistan
    • Vatican
    • Vietnam
    • Yemen
    • Zambia
    • Zimbabwe
    • Congo Democratic Republic
    • South Korea

    Joining Time of Countries

    1957: Afghanistan, Albania, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Cuba, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Vatican, Hungary, Iceland , India, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Monaco, Morocco, Myanmar, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland , Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, Venezuela, Vietnam

    1958: Belgium, Ecuador, Finland, Islamic Republic of Iran, Luxembourg, Mexico, Philippines, Sudan

    1959: Iraq

    1960: Chile, Colombia, Ghana, Senegal

    1961: Lebanon, Mali, Democratic Republic of Congo

    1962: Saudi Arabia

    1963: Algeria, Bolivia, Côte d’ Ivoire, Libya, Syria, Uruguay

    1964: Cameroon, Gabon, Kuwait, Nigeria

    1965: Costa Rica, Cyprus, Jamaica, Kenya, Madagascar

    1966: Panama

    1967: Sierra Leone, Singapore, Uganda

    1968: Liechtenstein

    1969: Malaysia, Niger, Zambia

    1970: Ireland

    1972: Bangladesh

    1973: Mongolia

    1974: Mauritius

    1976: Qatar, UAE, Tanzania

    1977: Nicaragua

    1983: Namibia

    1984: China

    1986: Zimbabwe

    1992: Estonia, Slovenia

    1993: Armenia, Croatia, Czech Republic, Lithuania, Slovakia

    1994: (Former Yugoslav Republic of) Macedonia, Kazakhstan, Marshall Islands, Uzbekistan, Yemen

    1995: Bosnia and Herzegovina

    1996: Georgia

    1997: Latvia, Malta, Moldova

    1998: Burkina Faso

    1999: Angola, Benin

    2000: Tajikistan

    2001: Azerbaijan, Central African Republic

    2002: Eritrea, Botswana

    2003: Honduras, Seychelles, Kyrgyzstan

    2004: Mauritania, Togo

    2005: Chad

    2006: Belize, Malawi, Montenegro, Mozambique

    2007: Cape Verde (intended)

    2008: Nepal, Palau, Papua New Guinea (intended)

    2009: Bahrain, Burundi, Cambodia, Congo, Oman, Lesotho, Rwanda (intended)

    2011: Laos, Tonga (proposed)

    2012: Dominica

    Total: 153 (As of February 2012, the total does not include the above-mentioned countries in italics.
    These countries will be approved to accede after depositing the acceptance of the agency’s Statute.)

    Note:
    1994: The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea joined the International Atomic Energy Agency in 1974 and withdrew from its members on June 13, 1994

    2003: Cambodia joined the International Atomic Energy Agency in 1958 and withdrew from its members on March 26, 2003. On November 23, 2009, the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency restored the membership of Cambodia in accordance with the recommendations of the Council.

    2003: The former Yugoslavia was changed to Serbia and Montenegro. In June 2006, the membership of the International Atomic Energy Agency was continued by Serbia and Montenegro.

    Relations with China

    On January 1, 1984, the Chinese government submitted an acceptance letter from the acceptance agency "Statute" and became an official member.

    In 1986, China participated in the formulation and signing of the Convention on Early Notification of Nuclear Accidents and the Convention on Assistance in Nuclear Accidents or Radiation Emergency.

    In September 1988, China and the agency formally signed the Agreement between the People ’s Republic of China and the International Atomic Energy Agency on the Implementation of Safeguards in China, which entered into force on September 18, 1989.

    In December 1988, China participated in the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material formulated by the International Atomic Energy Agency and kept by its Director General.

    On June 22, 1990, China and the International Atomic Energy Agency signed the "Agreement on Technical Assistance between the People's Republic of China and the International Atomic Energy Agency".

    In September 1994, China signed the Nuclear Safety Convention.
    In May 1997, at the agency ’s special council, China stated that it accepted certain specific measures of the agency ’s “93 + 2” plan and promised to conclude legally binding documents with the agency in due course to enable these measures to be implemented.

    In December 1998, China and the agency signed the "Additional Protocol to the Agreement between the People's Republic of China and the International Atomic Energy Agency on Safeguards in China."

    On March 28, 2002, the Chinese government notified the agency that it had completed the internal procedures necessary for the entry into force of the additional protocol, and that the additional protocol came into force for China.

    In April 2006, China joined the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management.

    In September 2009, China approved the amendments to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material.
    On August 16, 2010, the China Atomic Energy Agency and the International Atomic Energy Agency signed a nuclear security cooperation agreement to further strengthen bilateral cooperation in nuclear security regulations and standards.

    What are the Main Activities of The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)?

    The IAEA is not a specialized agency of the United Nations, but the agency and the United Nations work in coordination.

    It has a relationship agreement and has direct contact with the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council and the Security Council.

    In 1991, the Security Council passed Resolution 687. The agency accepted the commission’s entrustment to participate in the verification activities for the destruction of weapons of mass destruction (nuclear weapons) in Iraq, and did a lot of work to implement Resolution 687.

    The main activities are:
    1. Provide technical assistance to member countries to help them carry out research and application of peaceful uses of nuclear energy
    2. Enter into a “safeguards agreement” with relevant countries and international organizations, for technical assistance projects provided by or by the agency itself, to member states or other international organizations, and in accordance with nuclear non-proliferation obligations (the NPT, Obligations under the Non-Proliferation Treaty such as the Tlatelolco Treaty and the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone Treaty) entrusted supervision projects to implement safeguard supervision to ensure that these projects are not used for any military purpose.
    3. Organize research and formulate safety regulations on the use of nuclear energy, and recommend their use to countries all over the world.
    4. Sign scientific research contracts with relevant member states or specialized international institutions.
    5. Convene various scientific and technological conferences and organize the exchange of information on the peaceful use of atomic energy by establishing information networks, libraries, and publishing books and periodicals.

    After four years of arduous negotiations, in May 1997, the Special Council of Institutions completed the "93 + 2 Plan" on measures to strengthen the safeguards mechanism and adopted the model protocol for safeguards. 
    This marks the expansion of the agency ’s safeguards capabilities and scope from only verifying nuclear activities declared by countries to the detection of secret nuclear facilities and activities of non-nuclear-weapon states.

    In September 1997, the agency concluded the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management, the Protocol Amending the Vienna Convention on Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage, and the Supplementary Fund Source Convention.

    Nuclear Fuel Supply Plan

    In March 2011, the International Atomic Energy Agency Board of Governors approved a new multilateral nuclear fuel supply program aimed at meeting the needs of developing countries that cannot produce nuclear fuel for peaceful use of nuclear energy, while reducing the risk of nuclear weapons proliferation.

    Prior to this, the IAEA had approved two multilateral nuclear fuel supply plans. Among them, a nuclear fuel bank established in cooperation with Russia has been opened in the Siberian region of Russia, and another nuclear fuel bank program controlled by the IAEA was also in the Council at the end of 2010. It was approved at the meeting.

    From November 21 to 22, 2011, the IAEA held the Middle East Nuclear Weapon-Free Forum at the IAEA headquarters in Vienna, Austria.

    Score

    Since its establishment, the International Atomic Energy Agency has done a lot of work in accordance with the two functions (safety supervision and peaceful use of nuclear energy) stipulated in the Statute. 

    In the field of safeguards, it has signed comprehensive safeguards agreements and individual safeguards agreements with more than 140 countries and regional organizations. Nuclear-weapon States have also concluded voluntary safeguards agreements with them.

     In particular, the Additional Safeguards Protocol adopted in May 1997 marked the expansion of the agency’s safeguards capabilities and scope from only verifying nuclear activities declared by States to detecting secret nuclear facilities and activities in non-nuclear-weapon states.

     In terms of promoting the spread of nuclear knowledge and technology, and strengthening international cooperation in nuclear safety, the agency has successively formulated a series of international conventions related to nuclear safety, radiation safety, and waste management safety standards, such as the Convention on Early Notification of Nuclear Accidents, and Nuclear Accident or Radiation Emergency Assistance Convention, Nuclear Safety Convention, etc. 

    In particular, in 1997 the agency concluded the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management, the Amendment of the Protocol to the Vienna Convention on Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage, and the Supplementary Fund Source Convention.

    Because of its outstanding achievements, the 2005 Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to the International Atomic Energy Agency and the organization’s Director General Mohamed ElBaradei in recognition of their contributions in preventing the use of nuclear energy in the military field and in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy.

    Historical events

    Strong earthquake in Japan

    On March 16, 2011, Kyodo News reported that Japan’s Permanent Representative to Vienna International Agency Meng Neng revealed to Kyodo News on the 15th that the Japanese government had requested the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to send an expert team to help deal with the Great East Japan Earthquake Nuclear power plant accident. 
    It is expected that the IAEA will first dispatch an environmental monitoring team.

    The IAEA has previously stated that it will respond if it receives a specific dispatch request from Japan. IAEA Director General Miyano Amano said at the press conference that day "will be dispatched as soon as possible".

    The Japanese government hopes to prevent further expansion of disasters with the assistance of international agencies and obtain an accident assessment from a neutral standpoint.

    Nakamoto said that since the nuclear power plant is difficult to access, it was initially expected that a small-scale expert team would be dispatched, and stressed that it hoped that it would enter the accident site as soon as possible.

    The Japanese government requested the IAEA to send an expert team on the 14th. The two sides are currently negotiating details on the workplace and period. 
    The Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Nobuyuki Amano, said at the IAEA headquarters in Vienna on the 15th that the destruction of Japan’s nuclear power facilities by the Japanese earthquake did not mean that projects for peaceful use of nuclear energy, including nuclear power, should be abandoned.
    He emphasized that we "need a stable energy supply and need to deal with climate change."
    In these respects, the opportunities provided by nuclear power are far greater than the risks it brings.

    Amano also said that the peaceful use of nuclear energy provides the possibility of treating cancer, provides cheap energy, and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. These facts will not be changed by the accident caused by the Japanese earthquake.

    Japan-born Amano is 63 years old, has served as a Japanese diplomat in the United States and Belgium, and has participated in disarmament negotiations many times as a nuclear expert. He entered the International Atomic Energy Agency in 2005, and served as its Director General at the end of 2009.

    IAEA and Iran issue

    Until the end of 2008, the members of the International Atomic Energy Agency Board of Governors had differences on how to resolve the Iranian nuclear issue. 

    Britain, France, Germany and the United States, representing the EU, insisted that Iran immediately cease uranium enrichment activities, otherwise it would submit the Iranian nuclear issue to the UN Security Council. 
    Some member states, including Russia and China, advocate diplomacy to resolve the Iranian nuclear crisis within the framework of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

    IAEA and North Korea nuclear issue

    On September 4, 2014, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) stated that it had captured signs that North Korea was restarting its 5 MW nuclear reactor in Yongbyon.

    According to the IAEA, North Korea is continuing to carry out repairs and construction works. 
    Although it is difficult to determine the purpose of this move from satellite image data, it is consistent with North Korea ’s claim that it has always claimed that it is developing nuclear holding capabilities.

    The IAEA published an annual report on the nuclear facility in Yongbyon that day, thinking that the Yongbyon nuclear reactor had steam and cooling water discharged, thus proving that North Korea was starting. 

    North Korea announced in April 2013 that in order to explore nuclear deterrence, it would restart the nuclear reactor in the Yongbyon nuclear park. North Korea has always maintained that the development of nuclear weapons is a "sword" for the aggressive war led by the United States.

    In this report, the IAEA stated that North Korea ’s nuclear development plan is "still a serious problem." They have been using satellite images to monitor the situation in Yongbyon.

    The report pointed out that since August 2013, the IAEA analyzed satellite video and observed that water vapor and cooling water were discharged from the nuclear reactor. This is the proof that the reactor has been started.

    The report also pointed out that the IAEA has not been in contact with a 5 MW-level nuclear reactor after April 2009, so it is impossible to confirm the startup status of the nuclear reactor. 
    After North Korea banned the entry of IAEA inspectors in 2009, there were no inspectors in North Korea.

    According to the report, North Korea is continuing to carry out repairs and construction works at many locations in the Yongbyon Nuclear Park. 
    Although it is difficult to determine the purpose of this move from satellite image data alone, this is the same as what has been claimed to be developing nuclear holding capacity North Korea's claims coincide.

    After North Korea announced its plan to restart the nuclear reactor, experts predicted that if there were no major damage to the idle facilities during the period, it would only take half a year to restart. 

    In response, the Director General of IAEA, Amano, said at the end of last year that North Korea tried to restart the research reactor in Yongbyon.

    The National Institute of Science and Technology of the United States also stated that the satellite photos taken at the end of June confirmed the fact that North Korea was starting a nuclear reactor.

    IAEA Director General

    Who is the Current Director General of IAEA?

    On October 30, 2019, the International Atomic Energy Agency Board of Governors met to announce the election of Rafael Mariano Grossi as the new Director General. 

    On December 3, Grossi became the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency. 

    Who were the Previous Director-Generals of IAEA?

    1. William Sterling Cole, October 7, 1957-October 6, 1961 American citizenship
    2. Sigvard Arne Eklund (Sigvard Arne Eklund) October 6, 1961-November 30, 1981 Swedish nationality
    3. Hans Blix December 1, 1981-December 1, 1997 Swedish citizenship
    4. Mohamed M. El Baradei (December 1, 1997-December 1, 2009) Egyptian
    5. Yukiya Amano December 1, 2009-July 22, 2019 Japanese citizenship
    Agent Cornel Feruta July 22, 2019-December 2, 2019 Romanian citizenship
    6, Rafael Mariano Grossi (Rafael Mariano Grossi) December 3, 2019-now Argentine citizenship

    Related Information

    What are the Publications of IAEA?

    Safety Series No. 115-International Basic Safety Standards for the Prevention of Ionizing Radiation and the Safety of Radiation Sources: A Safeguard (1996), FAO, IAEA, ILO, Nuclear Energy Agency (OECD), Pan American Health Organization and World Satellite Organization, Vienna.

    Safety Bulletin No. 119, Emergency Planning and Precautions for the Return of Nuclear Power Source Satellites (1996), Vienna, IAEA.

    What is the Headquarters Address of The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)?

    The International Atomic Energy Agency is headquartered in Vienna, the capital of Austria.
    International Atomic Energy Agency’s United Nations City IAEA headquarters building
    IAEA headquarters building

    The International Atomic Energy Agency’s United Nations City, located in Vienna, Austria, is a group of silver-gray modern buildings consisting of a cylindrical conference building and six office buildings of varying heights. 
    The tallest building among them and the other building next to it are the headquarters of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

    The IAEA organization includes the General Assembly and the Council and the Secretariat. 
    The General Assembly is composed of representatives of all member countries and meets once a year.
    The Secretariat is the executive body, led by the Director General, and has:
    • The Policy Development Office and the Technical Assistance and Cooperation Division
    • The Nuclear Energy and Nuclear Safety Division
    • The Administration Management Division
    • Research and Isotope Division and Safeguards Division

    Since its establishment, the International Atomic Energy Agency has done a lot of work in safeguards and peaceful use of nuclear energy. 
    Also, it has successively chaired the formulation of :
    • The Convention on Early Notification of Nuclear Accidents
    • The Convention on Assistance in Nuclear Accidents or Radiation Emergency
    • The Convention on Nuclear Safety
    • The Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management  The Safety of Radioactive Waste Management
    • The Amendment of the Protocol to the Vienna Convention on Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage
    • The Supplementary Fund Source Convention
    • A series of safety standards related to nuclear safety, radiation safety, and waste management Relevant international conventions

    In 1984, the Chinese government submitted an acceptance letter to the International Atomic Energy Agency to become the official member of the Agency.
    For decades, China has participated in the formulation of some international conventions of the agency, and signed a series of conventions and agreements with the agency.

    In 2005, the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to the International Atomic Energy Agency and the organization’s Director General Mohamed ElBaradei in recognition of their contributions in preventing the use of nuclear energy in the military field and in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy.


    The International Labour Organization, ILO Frequently Asked Questions

    Meaning of ILO: The ILO was established in 1919 as a subsidiary of the League of Nations under the Versailles Peace Treaty. On December 14, 1946, he became a specialized agency of the United Nations, abbreviated as "Labor Organization". Its purpose is to: 

    • Promote full employment and improve living standards
    • Promote cooperation between employers and employee
    • Expand social security measures; protect workers' lives and health
    The main activities are:
    • Engaging in international labor legislation
    • Formulating conventions and recommendations
    • Providing assistance and technical cooperation

    The highest authority of the organization is the International Labour Conference, which meets once a year.



    UN Organization Name:    International Labour Organization

    Member States:    187
    Principal:    Guy Ryder

    Headquarters:    Geneva, Switzerland

    Set up time:    1919

    Official website:    http://www.ilo.org/


      What is Organization Overview of ILO?

      International Labour Organization Overview: As of 2015, the ILO has 185 member countries. 
      The main person in charge is the Director General (or known as the Director of the International Labour Office) Guy Ryder (United Kingdom). 
      He was elected in June 2012 and took office in September, with a term of office until 2017.

      Which Organizations does ILO Include?

      The Organization of the ILO includes:

      (1) International Labour Conference

      The highest authority, convened once a year; during the intersessional period, the Council directs the organization’s work, and the International Labour Office is its permanent secretariat. 

      The main activities include engaging in international labor legislation, formulating conventions and recommendations, and technical assistance and technical cooperation.

      (2) Council

      The Executive Committee of the International Labour Organization is elected by the General Assembly every three years and guides the work of the organization during the adjournment of the General Assembly. 
      It convenes a meeting in March, June and November each year.

      (3) International Labour Office

       Permanent Secretariat, located at the headquarters of the International Labour Office in Geneva, Switzerland. 

      The ILO is an international organization that participates in the country as a unit, but the organizational structure implements the unique "tripartism" principle. This means that the delegations of member states participating in various meetings and activities are composed of representatives of the government, employers’ organizations and workers’ organizations. 

      The representatives of the three parties have equal and independent right to speak and vote. 
      International Labour Organization LOGO

      What is the Purpose of International Labour Organization?

      ILO Purpose
      • Promote full employment and improve living standards.
      • Promote labor-management cooperation.
      • Improve working conditions
      • Expand social security
      • Guarantee the occupational safety and health of workers
      • Obtain lasting world peace, and establish and maintain social justice

      What is ILO Declaration?

      The Declaration on the ILO’s Goals and Purposes (Philadelphia Declaration), adopted by the 26th International Labour Conference in 1944 in Philadelphia, USA, reaffirmed the basic principles of the ILO, including:

      • Workers are not commodities
      • Freedom of speech and freedom of association are necessary conditions for continuous progress
      • Poverty anywhere threatens prosperity everywhere
      • The fight against poverty requires the unremitting energies of all countries at home and the concerted efforts of the international community.

      The Philadelphia Declaration makes it clear that all human beings, regardless of race, belief or gender, seek material welfare and spiritual development under the conditions of freedom, dignity, economic security and equal opportunities. 
      Creating conditions to achieve this goal should become a national and international policy Central goal.

      The ILO has an obligation to review and consider all international economic and fiscal policies and measures in accordance with this goal. 

      After the adoption of the Philadelphia Declaration, as an annex to the Constitution, together with the Constitution, it became the basis and guiding document for the ILO ’s activities.

      What are the Responsibilities of ILO?

      International Labour Organization: The International Labour Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations aimed at promoting social justice and internationally recognized human rights and labor rights.

      It formulates international labor standards in the form of conventions and recommendations, and determines the minimum standards of basic labor rights. 

      It covers:

      • Freedom of association
      • The right to organiz
      • Collective bargaining
      • The abolition of forced labor
      • Equal opportunities and treatment
      • Other regulations that regulate working conditions throughout the work area standard.


      The ILO mainly provides technical assistance in the following areas: 
      • Vocational training and vocational rehabilitation
      • Employment policy
      • Labor administration
      • Labor law and industrial relation
      • Working conditions
      • Management development
      • Cooperatives
      • Social security
      • Labor statistics and occupational safety and health

      It advocates the development of independent worker and employer organizations and provides training and consulting services to these organizations. 

      The organization implements the principle of "tripartite mechanism", that is, the delegation of each member country is composed of two people from the government. 
      One representative from each worker and employer, and all three parties participate in various meetings and institutions and vote independently.

      What is the History of ILO?

      History of International Labour Organization: The ILO was established at the Peace Conference held after the end of the First World War in 1919. This Peace Conference was first held in Paris and then in Versailles. In April 1919, the Peace Conference adopted the ILO Constitution.
      The ILO was first created for humanitarian purposes. 
      The working conditions of workers are increasingly unacceptable, and a large number of workers are being exploited without considering their physical, family life and their personal development.
      The ILO Constitution clearly reflects people ’s concern about this situation in the preamble, noting that “existing working conditions have exposed a large number of workers to injustice, suffering and poverty”. 

      The second is for political purposes. If the working conditions of workers are not improved, then with the development of industrialization, the number of workers will continue to increase, which may result in social instability and even revolution.
      The preface points out that injustice "has caused such great instability that it has endangered world peace and harmony". 

      The third is for economic purposes. Since improving working conditions inevitably has an impact on production costs, any industry or country undergoing social improvement may find itself placed at a disadvantage to its competitors. 

      The preamble states that “If any country does not adopt humane working conditions, it will become an obstacle for other countries who are willing to improve their own conditions.”
      In the middle of World War II, representatives of governments, employers and workers from 41 countries attended the International Labor Conference in Philadelphia. 

      Delegates adopted the Philadelphia Declaration as an annex to the ILO Constitution, which is still a charter on the purpose and objectives of the ILO. The ILO was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1969 to commemorate its 50th anniversary.
      On March 4, 1999, professional lawyer and diplomat Juan Somavia became the ninth director of the International Labour Office, and was re-elected twice in 2003 and 2008. Mr. Somavia has been engaged in civil and international affairs for a long time and has an outstanding reputation.

       In early 2012, it was announced that due to family reasons, he would resign on September 30 of that year.
      In June 2012, the then Deputy Director-General of the International Labour Organization (or Executive Director of the International Labour Office) Guy Ryder was elected as the new Director-General. 

      Ryder was the general secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation, and was the first director-general in the history of the International Labour Organization who was not nominated by the governments of member states (nominated by the Workers’ Group). 

      In October 2012, Ryder was appointed Director General.
      On May 8, 2019, in Geneva, Switzerland, United Nations Secretary General Guterres, ILO Director General Guy Ryder, and others participated in the 100th anniversary celebration of the ILO.

      What are the Main Activities of ILO?

      International Labour Organization Main Activities:

      Hold a meeting

      Since its establishment until 2013, the organization has held 102 International Labour Conferences. By March 2014, the organization had held 320 council meetings. 

      From the beginning of the 21st century to 2015, the recurring issues of the Council mainly include: 
      • Review and approval of the work reports of special committees such as freedom of association
      • Planned finance and administration
      • Law and international labor standards, employment and social policy
      • Discussion of budgets, personnel and meeting plans, etc.
      In addition to the above regular meetings, the organization often holds various industry and sector professional meetings to study issues related to employment, training, occupational safety and health, and social security in related industries or industries.

      Daily affairs of International Labour Organization

      (1) International labor legislation

      Formulate international labor conventions and recommendations for member states to approve and implement. Since its establishment, successive labor conferences have formulated 188 conventions and 203 recommendations. 

      (2) Technical assistance and technical cooperation

       to provide member countries with financial, technical and consulting assistance and cooperation in the field of labor. 

      (3) Research and publication

      Carry out research work on theory and practice in the field of labor science, and publish and distribute various relevant journals, monographs, and promotional materials.

      What are the International Labor Standards?

      An important activity of the ILO is to engage in international labor legislation, that is, to develop international labor standards. International labor standards take two forms: 
      International labor conventions and international labor recommendations. The convention is an international treaty, formulated by voting by more than two-thirds of the representatives attending the International Labour Conference.
      Thereafter,
      Subject to the independent decision of the Member State, the approval procedures can be performed at any time, that is, it has legal binding force on the country and no binding force on the country that does not approve it.

      The proposal is formulated in the same way, but approval is not required, and its role is Reference when formulating national policies, laws and regulations in related fields.

      In practice, the method of supplementing a recommendation with a more detailed and specific content while formulating a convention is often adopted.

      Classification of International Labour Organization

      International labor standards can be divided into the following types according to their content:
      1. Basic labor human rights refer to freedom of association and collective bargaining, mainly referring to the freedom to establish trade unions, abolition of forced labor, the implementation of collective bargaining, equality of labor opportunities and treatment, and abolition of child labor.

      2. Employment, social policy, labor management, labor-management relations, working conditions, including wages, working hours, occupational safety and health, social security, including compensation for work-related injuries, pensions, unemployment insurance.

      3. Target specific groups and occupations, including women, child labor and underage workers, elderly workers, disabled people, migrant workers, seafarers, fishermen, dock workers, etc.

      For a long time, the ILO has attached importance to the formulation of international labor standards, promoted the ratification and implementation of international labor conventions by Member States, and played a positive role in safeguarding the basic rights and interests of workers and other workers in various countries.

      In the 1990s, the ILO took a series of measures to promote the ratification process.

      However, for historical reasons, the entire international labor standards system is mainly based on the socio-economic development level and needs of developed countries.

      Therefore, despite the International Labor Organization calling it the minimum standard of international labor, and advocating the universality and flexibility of the standard, the majority of developing countries still have many difficulties in the formulation and approval of the Convention, and there are many contradictions with developed countries.

      Especially in recent years, the trade union organizations and governments of a few Western countries have advocated that the status of the implementation of labor conventions in various countries should be linked to their international trade and market access, which has caused opposition in the labor organizations.

      What are the Main Publications of ILO?

      International Labour Organization Main Publications: 
      • International Labour Review
      • Official Bulletin, 3 times a year
      • Labor Statistics Bulletin (Quarterly) 
      • (Bulletin of Labor Statistics)
      • Year Book (Year Book of Labor Statistics)
      • World of Work (Bimonthly)
      The above publications are published in English, French and Spanish, and the Chinese version of "Working World" is published.

      1. International Labour Review

      Academic publications that publish economic and social articles related to current international and national labor issues. Bimonthly.

      2. Labor Law Documents

      Publish important international labor conventions and texts of laws and regulations on labor and social security in various countries. Published three times a year.

      3. Bulletin of Labour Statistics

      Publication of special articles on labor statistics, statistical tables on employment, unemployment, wages, working hours, and consumer prices in three languages ​​in parallel in English, French and Western languages ​​(with each latest issue of a supplementary material) 

      According to the results of the “October Survey” conducted annually by occupational classification on wages and working hours and food retail prices. A total of four bulletins, four supplementary materials, and one special issue of "October Survey" are published every year.

      4. Year Book of Labour Statistics

      Three languages: English, French and Western. 
      Published annual comprehensive statistics of labor in various countries of the world, including total population and economically active population, employment, unemployment, working hours, wages, labor costs, industrial injuries, strikes and plant closures (the vast majority of tables are classified by major economically active sectors), and consumer prices. Explain statistical sources and methods to provide guidance for the use of yearbooks and bulletins.

      5. Official Bulletin

      Bulletin A (Series A): publish ILO work news, documents adopted by the International Labour Conference and other official documents; Bulletin B (Series B): publish the report of the Committee on Freedom of Association of the International Labour Office. There are three phases each year.

      6. Social and Labour Bulletin

      Quarterly Social and Labor News. Post the latest news on the activities of governments and employers' and workers' organizations in social and labor affairs legislation and policy formulation. Four supplements and one supplement each year.

      7. International Labour Documentation

      Monthly. According to the bulletin of the catalogue compiled by the LABORDOC database of the International Labour Office, it includes labor relations, labor laws, employment, working conditions, management, vocational training, project evaluation, labor economy, social development, rural development, technological change and other fields in countries around the world.

      8. Documents of the International Labour Conference

      Including the working papers of each year ’s International Labour Conference issues and the minutes of the conference, usually 14 to 18 items.

      9. Labor Education

      quarterly. For trade union organizations and other worker education institutions to carry out worker education. 
      News and book reviews on the current status of world labor issues, ILO activities, worker education methods and the history of the labor movement are published.

      10. Judgments of the Administrative Tribunal of the ILO

      Published two to three times a year.

      11. Conditions of Work Digest

      Publish information on legislation, policy formulation, and plan implementation related to important issues and trends in working conditions and quality of work life. Twice a year.

      12. Documents of the Regional Conferences

      Including working papers on various topics of the ILO Regional Conferences for Africa, America, Asia and Europe. Published after each meeting.

      13. Documents of Industrial Meetings

      Including working documents and meeting minutes of various professional industry meetings held by the International Labour Office. Published after each meeting.

      14. Labor-Management Relations Series

      Monographs on labor law and labor relations are published from time to time.

      15. Management Development Series

      Monographs on various management issues and management development methods are published from time to time.

      16. The Cost of Social Security

      A comparative study of social security expenditures in countries around the world. Issued every three years.

      17. Occupational Safety and Health Series

      Occupational safety and health monographs and reports on occupational diseases and accidents. Published irregularly.

      18. World Employment Program Studies

      Publication of publicity materials, research reports, and monographs published by the International Employment Office of the International Labour Office (the function of this office is to provide assistance to countries in the world to eliminate poverty and unemployment) Published irregularly.

      Relations with China

      China is a founding member of the International Labour Organization and a permanent member of the organization. 

      In 1971, China resumed its legal seat in the organization. Before 1983, China did not participate in the organization's activities. 

      In June 1983, China sent a delegation headed by the Minister of Labor and Personnel to attend the 69th International Labour Conference and formally resumed its activities in the International Labour Organization. 

      From 1983 to the present, China has sent delegations to attend various meetings every year and actively participated in the organization’s activities in international labor legislation and technical cooperation. 

      Over the past ten years, China’s relationship with the International Labour Organization has grown considerably. 
      It has carried out personnel exchange visits, inspections, ILO experts sent to China to hold seminars and workshops, formulated and implemented technical cooperation plans, and assisted China in establishing vocational technical training Center and other activities.

      The international labor convention ratified by China covers the minimum age of employment, minimum wage, working hours and rest time, working conditions of seafarers, equal pay for equal work for men and women, and employment of disabled persons. 

      By the end of 2013, China had ratified 25 international labor conventions.

      In January 1985, the ILO established an agency in China, the ILO Beijing Bureau, to be responsible for contacting relevant government agencies, trade union organizations, enterprise groups, academic units, etc., as well as implementing technical assistance and cooperation projects for China. 


      International Labour Organization Seal

      ILO Salary Report

      In early April 2012, the ILO released monthly per capita income statistics for 72 countries and regions around the world. 

      The results show that the per capita monthly income of these countries and regions is US $ 1480, or about RMB 9327. 
      Among them, Luxembourg has the highest wage level, with an average monthly salary of 4,089 US dollars. 

      The average monthly salary of employees in Mainland China is 656 US dollars, or about 4,134 yuan (this salary standard is subject to discussion), ranking 57th. In addition, Hong Kong and Macau ranked 30th and 52nd respectively.

      ILO Analysis Report


      Affirm China's Huimin system

      The International Labour Organization released an analysis report in Geneva on September 3, 2012, affirming China's recent implementation of a medical insurance system that benefits all people.
      The analysis report is titled "The Latest Revolution in China: Basic Medical Services Benefiting All People". The report believes that China's achievements in promoting basic medical services since 2012 are not only a "reform" but also a "revolution".
      According to the report, before 2003, the population targeted by China's medical insurance was mainly urban employees. Since then, China has vigorously promoted medical insurance for rural population and urban residents. 

      Since April 2009, the Chinese government has invested 850 billion yuan in a new round of medical reform. By 2015, China’s universal medical insurance has basically achieved full coverage. 

      By the end of 2011, employees, urban residents and new rural cooperative medical insurance have participated in it.
      The number of insurers has reached 1.3 billion, and the coverage rate has reached 95%. China already has the world's largest medical insurance system. 

      From 2009 to 2011, in the past three years, the Chinese government has invested a total of 63 billion yuan to support the construction of 2,200 county-level hospitals and 33,000 grassroots medical and health institutions. 

      In the past three years, China has also introduced a training system for general practitioners, which has trained more than 10,000 general practitioners, and a network covering urban and rural primary health care has been initially established.
      The report pointed out that China's budget for health has increased by 30% annually in recent years. 

      From 2008 to 2011, China invested a lot of financial resources in training medical personnel and improving medical services. 

      China has also released the "National Essential Medicines List" to prevent medical institutions from increasing the price of medicines, and the price of essential medicines has dropped by an average of 30% compared to before the system was implemented.

      In addition, the new medical insurance system is particularly aimed at "three noes" among urban residents who are unable to work, have no source of income, and are unable to provide support, and provide them with medical services.
      The report also pointed out that there are only 1.32 caregivers per 1,000 people in China, which prevents some insured persons from actually accessing medical services.

      In addition, the rapid aging of the Chinese population poses a challenge to China's medical security undertakings. 
      The population of 65 years and over among the Chinese population will exceed 8%. 
      By 2025, this proportion will reach 14%, which is bound to increase the burden on China's medical insurance system.






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