Australia's Relations with International Organisations in Vienna

The Australian Embassy and Permanent Mission to the United Nations is accredited to a number of international organisations in Vienna, including:

Australia and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

Australia and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) (Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade)

Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO)

Australia is a designated member of the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency, having been a founding Member of the Agency in 1957 and one of the small number of States that drafted the Agency’s Statute. The Australian Embassy and Permanent Mission to the United Nations in Vienna plays a significant role in contributing to and overseeing the activities of the Agency on behalf of the Australian Government.

The Agency is responsible for promoting international co-operation in the peaceful uses of atomic energy. Its activities fall into three main areas, all of which are important for Australia:

Safeguards: it is the role of the Agency, through its inspection program, to provide the international community with the assurance that nuclear materials which are designated to be used only for peaceful purposes are not diverted to military purposes. Australia played a leading role in the development and adoption of the IAEA’s safeguards regime, including the Additional Protocol to comprehensive safeguards agreements, which provides the Agency with enhanced powers of inspection and verification. We continue to be active in promoting the early, effective and efficient implementation of Agency safeguards. The Australian Safeguards and Non-Proliferation Office (ASNO), located within the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, holds prime responsibility for Australian policy in this area.

Safety and security: the Agency is active in promoting nuclear safety worldwide through the development of international law and technical standards and the provision of advice to Member States. Australia has been active in the development and implementation of conventions, codes and standards relating to nuclear safety and security. The Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) is the Australian Government’s lead agency on nuclear safety matters.

Assisting Member States in the application of nuclear techniques for peaceful purposes, which is not restricted to the use of nuclear power, but extends to the use of radioactive isotopes in medical, industrial and agricultural applications. The Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) plays a significant role in this area.

Link to the IAEA website: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organisation (CTBTO)

Australia and the CTBT (Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade)

Australia was instrumental in pushing for a comprehensive ban on nuclear tests. As a result, the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1996. Australia signed the CTBT on 24 September 1996 and ratified the Treaty on 9 July 1998.

Link to the CTBTO website: Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organisation (CTBTO)

Export Control regimes

Australia and export control regimes

Links to the Vienna-based export control regime websites:
Wassenaar Arrangement (WA)
Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG)
Zangger Committee (ZAC)

United Nations organisations in Vienna

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) promotes international cooperation against illicit drug production, trafficking and drug-related crime. UNODC also has the responsibility for promoting international cooperation in the fields of crime prevention, criminal justice and criminal law reform. The Office works with Member States to strengthen the rule of law, promote stable and viable criminal justice systems and to combat the growing threat of transnational organized crime.

The Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) is the central policy-making body within the UN system for dealing with all drug-related matters. Each year an Australian delegation participates in the Commission, which analyses the world drug abuse situation and develops proposals to strengthen international drug control. The Department of Health and the Attorney-General’s Department are the Australian Government departments with primary carriage for drug control in Australia.

The International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) is the independent and quasi-judicial control body for the implementation of the United Nations drug conventions. INCB is independent of Governments as well as of the United Nations; its 13 members serve in their personal capacity. Australia liaises closely with the Secretariat of the INCB on issues relating to the control of both licit and illicit drugs.

The UN Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice formulates international policies and recommends activities in the field of crime control. Each year a delegation from Australia participates in this forum, which discusses ways to fight crime on a global level. The Attorney-General’s Department has primary responsibility for crime prevention in Australia.

The UN Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) is the core legal body of the UN system in the field of international trade law, working for the progressive harmonisation of the law of international trade. The Attorney-General’s Department has primary carriage of trade law matters in Australia.

The UN Office for Outer Space Affairs manages space programs within the United Nations and acts as Secretariat for meetings of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS). COPUOS was set up by the UN General Assembly in 1959 to review the scope of international cooperation in peaceful uses of outer space.

Links to the Vienna-based UN organisations websites:

United Nations Office at Vienna (UNOV)
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)
Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND)
International Narcotics Control Board (INCB)
UN Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice
United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL)
United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (OOSA)
United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR)

Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)

Australia has been an Asian Partners for Co-operation of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) since 2009. The OSCE has a comprehensive approach to security that encompasses politico-military, economic and environmental, and human aspects. It addresses a wide range of security-related concerns, including arms control, confidence- and security-building measures, human rights, national minorities, democratization, policing strategies, counter-terrorism and economic and environmental activities.