The World Selection Committee consists of 6 members. These individuals are the Secretaries-general of IAEA, the Director of IAEA, the President of IAEA, the Permanent Secretary General of IAEA, the Executive Secretary of IAEA, the National Technical Information Officer of IAEA and a member of the Atomic Energy Agency (ANSTO). These persons are chosen for their knowledge and experience in the field of arms and nuclear proliferation and weapons-related technologies. They are entrusted to make the best decisions in terms of world peace, security and safety, as well as the promotion of IAEA activities and programs.
There is a need for a world selection committee for various reasons. The IAEA needs this committee so that it can respond quickly and effectively to emergency situations that may arise due to a threat to the balance of world peace and security, or a potential threat to the use of sensitive IAEA equipment and technologies in the war theatre. The IAEA is also deeply concerned about the safety of its staff and its own uranium stocks. Hence, these particular duties and responsibilities demand a high level of expertise and responsiveness from the committee members. This committee is also mandated by the governing body of the Olympic Games, which is the IAEA board of directors.
The purpose of these extraordinary committee members is to undertake continuous review of the status of world peace and security, with a view to ensure that the world sports programmes are not compromised. The members of this committee are expected to have a strong command of languages that are spoken by people in different countries and cultures. In addition, they must also possess strong interpersonal skills and be able to understand and communicate with people from different cultures, including those from non-English speaking countries. Their report should also be comprehensive and contain a concise assessment of the condition of world peace and security. Their report shall be released at the IAEA headquarters as soon as possible.
IAEA world Security Week is an international forum where IAEA member states and other stakeholders to participate to enhance cooperation between the IAEA and the world community, to raise the matter of IAEA disarmament, and to explore ways in which to implement stronger controls over the production, handling, transport, storage and sale of nuclear weapons and related materials. IAEA staff may be invited to participate in such forum events as part of their regular job duties. The IAEA has regularly held events with the participation of key stakeholders such as the governments of Russia, Germany, USA, UK, France, China and Japan. At these events, IAEA member states and other relevant organizations to work out ways to cooperate on the basis of trust, cooperation, security and strength. These events also provide a platform for IAEA-aligned non-governmental organizations to promote their own cause and gain access to IAEA resources.
The IAEA world selection committee is composed of one person, who is presently a senior scientist in the area of nuclear medicine, and two members, each holding a different specialization in different fields. The scientific and coordinator positions are usually held by a pair of experts, while the country representatives serve as technical experts. No women members are present in this committee. The countries that have observer status at the IAEA include Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden and Taiwan. There are other countries that are not a member of IAEA which are parties to the non-proliferation treaty and have nuclear power plants on their soil.
In order to be selected for a position as a member of this committee, an individual has to be of high caliber with impeccable academic credentials. In addition, an individual also needs to have a clear understanding of and dedication towards the organization. A candidate must not only be a strong communicator but should also be well versed in the various areas of arms control. This is important because the IAEA is very strict about the subject and any member found to be not sufficiently committed to the cause would immediately be expelled from the organization. Candidates may undergo interview sessions conducted by the IAEA itself or by independent agencies.