WHO is subordinate to IAEA

WHO and IAEA are indeed bound by an agreement dating back to 1959. However, it does not indicate subordination of either of the organizations to the other, as it places them on strictly equal footing. While this agreement has been subject to a number of controversies, WHO indicated in 2001 that this agreement did not threaten its independence.

The 1959 Agreement

While the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) both belong to the UN, they are two separate international organizations, each with its own objectives and areas of expertise. WHO is responsible for protecting and promoting global public health, while IAEA ensures the safe and peaceful use of nuclear energy. The two institutions collaborate on health issues related to ionizing radiation, without being subordinate to one another. A cooperation agreement signed in 1959 defined their areas of collaboration and mechanisms for coordination [1].

WHO affirms its independence

It specifies in particular that this cooperation is achieved “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.” Some provisions, in particular those on confidentiality, gave rise to various interpretations and generated significant controversies. However, in February 2001, WHO issued a statement clarifying that the 1959 Agreement between the IAEA and WHO “...does not in any way imply a submission of one organization to the authority of the other so as to affect their independence and responsibilities under their respective constitutional mandates.” [2].

WHO therefore conducts its own research on the effects of exposure to radionuclides, based on the best available scientific evidence. For example, as early as 2001, it published a report on the health effects of depleted uranium, a metal used in the manufacture of certain ammunition [3]. But also, in 2013, a report on the health risks related to the Fukushima accident [4].

A third UN organization, the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR), has published very extensive literature on the Fukushima and Chernobyl accidents, which is regularly updated [5].