# Agreement between the World Health Organisation and the International Atomic Energy Agency

Approved by the Twelfth World Health Assembly on 28 May 1959 in resolution WHA12.40.

### Article I – Co-operation and Consultation

1. The International Atomic Energy Agency and the World Health Organization agree that, with a view to facilitating the effective attainment of the objectives set forth in their respective constitutional instruments, within the general framework established by the Charter of the United Nations, they will act in close co-operation with each other and will consult each other regularly in regard to matters of common interest.
2. In particular, and in accordance with the Constitution of the World Health Organization and the Statute of the International Atomic Energy Agency and its agreement with the United Nations together with the exchange of letters related thereto, and taking into account the respective co-ordinating responsibilities of both organizations, it is recognized by the World Health Organization that the International Atomic Energy Agency has the primary responsibility for encouraging, assisting and co-ordinating research on, and development and practical application of, atomic energy for peaceful uses throughout the world without prejudice to the right of the World Health Organization to concern itself with promoting, developing, assisting, and co-ordinating international health work, including research, in all its aspects.
3. Whenever either organization proposes to initiate a programme or activity on a subject in which the other organization has or may have a substantial interest, the first party shall consult the other with a view to adjusting the matter by mutual agreement.

### Article II – Reciprocal Representation

1. Representatives of the World Health Organization shall be invited to attend the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency and to participate without vote in the deliberations of that body and of its subsidiary organs (e.g. commissions and committees) with respect to items on their agenda in which the World Health Organization has an interest.
2. Representatives of the International Atomic Energy Agency shall be invited to attend the World Health Assembly and to participate without vote in the deliberations of that body and of its subsidiary organs (e.g. commissions and committees) with respect to items on their agenda in which the International Atomic Energy Agency has an interest.
3. Representatives of the World Health Organization shall be invited as appropriate to attend meetings of the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency and to participate without vote in the deliberations of that body and of its commissions and committees with respect to items on their agenda in which the World Health Organization has an interest.
4. Representatives of the International Atomic Energy Agency shall be invited as appropriate to attend meetings of the Executive Board of the World Health Organization and to participate without vote in the deliberations of that body and of its commissions and committees with respect to items on their agenda in which the International Atomic Energy Agency has an interest.
5. Appropriate arrangements shall be made by agreement from time to time for the reciprocal representation of the International Atomic Energy Agency and the World Health Organization at other meetings convened under their respective auspices which consider matters in which the other organization has an interest.

### Article III – Exchange of Information and Documents

1. The International Atomic Energy Agency and the World Health Organization recognize that they may find it necessary to apply certain limitations for the safeguarding of confidential information furnished to them. They therefore agree that nothing in this agreement shall be construed as requiring either of them to furnish such information as would, in the judgement of the party possessing the information, constitute a violation of the confidence of any of its Members or anyone from whom it has received such information or otherwise interfere with the orderly conduct of its operations.
2. Subject to such arrangements as may be necessary for the safeguarding of confidential material, the Secretariat of the International Atomic Energy Agency and the Secretariat of the World Health Organization shall keep each other fully informed concerning all projected activities and all programmes of work which may be of interest to both parties.
3. The Director-General of the World Health Organization and the Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency or their representatives shall, at the request of either party, arrange for consultations regarding the provision by either party of such special information as may be of interest to the other party.

### Article IV – Proposal of Agenda Items

After such preliminary consultations as may be necessary, the World Health Organization shall include on the provisional agenda of its Assembly or its Executive Board items proposed to it by the International Atomic Energy Agency. Similarly, the International Atomic Energy Agency shall include on the provisional agenda of its General Conference or its Board of Governors items proposed by the World Health Organization. Items submitted by either party for consideration by the other shall be accompanied by an explanatory memorandum.

### Article V – Co-operation between Secretariats

The Secretariat of the International Atomic Energy Agency and the Secretariat of the World Health Organization shall maintain a close working relationship in accordance with such arrangements as may have been agreed upon from time to time between the Directors-General of both organizations. In particular, joint committees may be convened when appropriate to consider questions of substantive interest to both parties.

### Article VI – Technical and Administrative Co-operation

1. The International Atomic Energy Agency and the World Health Organization agree to consult each other from time to time regarding the most efficient use of personnel and resources and appropriate methods of avoiding the establishment and operation of competitive or overlapping facilities and services. 2. The International Atomic Energy Agency and the World Health Organization agree that the measures to be taken by them, within the framework of any general arrangements for co-operating in regard to personnel matters which are made by the United Nations, will include (a) measures to avoid competition in the recruitment of their personnel; and (b) measures to facilitate interchange of personnel on a temporary or permanent basis, in appropriate cases, in order to obtain the maximum benefit from their services, making due provision for the protection of the seniority, pension and other rights of the personnel concerned.

### Article VII – Statistical Services

In view of the desirability of maximum co-operation in the statistical field and of minimizing the burdens placed on national governments and other organizations from which information may be collected, the International Atomic Energy Agency and the World Health Organization undertake, bearing in mind the general arrangements for statistical co-operation made by the United Nations, to avoid undesirable duplication between them with respect to the collection, compilation and publication of statistics, to consult with each other on the most efficient use of information, resources, and technical personnel in the field of statistics and in regard to all statistical projects dealing with matters of common interest.

### Article VIII – Financing of Special Services

If compliance with a request for assistance made by either organization to the other involves or would involve substantial expenditure for the organization complying with the request, consultation shall take place with a view to determining the most equitable manner of meeting such expenditure.

### Article IX – Regional and Branch Offices

The World Health Organization and the International Atomic Energy Agency agree to consult together with a view, where practicable, to entering into co-operative arrangements as to the use by either organization of the premises, staffing and common services of regional and branch offices which the other has already established or may establish later.

### Article X – Implementation of the Agreement

The Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency and the Director-General of the World Health Organization may enter into such arrangements for the implementation of this agreement as may be found desirable in the light of the operating experience of the two organizations.

### Article XI – Notification to the United Nations and Filing and Recording

1. In accordance with their respective agreements with the United Nations, the International Atomic Energy Agency and the World Health Organization will inform the United Nations forthwith of the terms of the present agreement.
2. On the coming-into-force of this agreement it will be submitted to the Secretary-General of the United Nations for filing and recording in accordance with the existing regulations of the United Nations.

### Article XII – Revision and Termination

1. This agreement shall be subject to revision by agreement between the World Health Organization and the International Atomic Energy Agency on the request of either party.
2. If agreement on the subject of revision cannot be reached, the agreement may be terminated by either party on 31 December of any year by notice given to the other party not later than 30 June of that year.

### Article XIII – Entry-into-Force

This agreement shall come into force on its approval by the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency and by the World Health Assembly.
Approved by the Twelfth World Health Assembly on 28 May 1959 in resolution WHA12.40.