July 29, 1957 - The International Atomic Energy Agency was created

On 29 July 1957, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) was created in response to the uncertainty and expectations arising from the discoveries and various applications of nuclear technology.

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The origin of this organism stems from US President Dwight Eisenhower's "Atoms for Peace" speech to the United Nations General Assembly on 8 December 1953.

In October 1956, President Eisenhower ratified the IAEA Statute, which marked the official birth of the IAEA and was unanimously approved by 81 nations. A month later, it was defined as an autonomous agency of the United Nations, whose main function would be to serve as an intergovernmental forum for scientific and technical cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. With advisors, equipment, and training to assist in developing governments, promoting the transfer of knowledge and know-how, so that recipient countries can effectively and safely implement their atomic energy development programmes.             

"The Agency shall seek to accelerate and enlarge the contribution of atomic energy to peace, health and prosperity throughout the world. It shall ensure, so far as it is able, that assistance provided by it or at its request or under its direction or control is not used in such a way as to further any military purpose".

In October 1957, delegates at the first General Conference decided to establish the IAEA's headquarters in Vienna, Austria. Until the opening of the Vienna International Centre in August 1979, the former Grand Hotel near the Vienna Opera House was the Agency's temporary headquarters.

The IAEA also has two regional offices, in Toronto, Canada, since 1979, and Tokyo, Japan, since 1984, as well as two liaison offices, in New York City, United States of America, since 1957, and in Geneva, Switzerland, since 1965. The Agency has specialised nuclear technology laboratories in Vienna and Seibersdorf (Austria), opened in 1961, and, since 1961, in Monaco.

To find out more about the creation of the Agency, click here: Creation of the IAEA