The International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) is an international confederation of national organisations that allows a forum for common matters of concern to amateur radio operators worldwide, and collectively represents matters to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). The International Amateur Radio Union was founded in 1925 and, as of July 2021, it is composed of 174 national member societies.
Following an informal meeting in 1924 of representatives from France, Great Britain, Belgium, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Luxembourg, Canada, and the United States, a plan was formulated to hold an International Amateur Congress in Paris, France, in April 1925. This Congress was held for the purpose of founding an international amateur radio organization. The Congress was attended by representatives of 23 countries in Europe, Americas, and Asia. A constitution for the IARU was adopted on April 17, and the formation of the International Amateur Radio Union was ratified on April 18, 1925. In the current era, this is the date (April 18) on which World Amateur Radio Day is celebrated.
The protocol of the congress was written in English, French and Esperanto.
The IARU has an elected president and vice president, an appointed secretary and other officials (including regional representatives) forming an Administrative Council (IARU-AC). These office holders are presently Timothy Ellam, VE6SH (Canada), president; Thomas Wrede, DF2OO (Germany), vice-president; and Joel Harrison, W5ZN (United States), secretary. The IARU International Secretariat (IARU-IS) is operated by a member society after election by members. Currently, the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) operates the IARUIS from its headquarters in Newington, Connecticut, US.
The IARU is organised into three regions, named Region 1, Region 2, and Region 3. These regions correspond to the regulatory regions used by the International Telecommunication Union. Each region has an executive committee, typically composed of a president, vice-president, secretary, treasurer, and several directors. These regional officers are elected by representatives from the member societies at triennial regional conferences. Coordinators may be appointed by the executive committee of their region to support particular areas within the region, or to promote certain amateur radio activities within the region. All three regions have appointed coordinators for Amateur Radio Direction Finding, emergency communications, monitoring for electromagnetic interference
IARU Region 1 includes the member societies representing amateur radio operators in Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and northern Asia. IARU Region 1 has the largest number of member societies among the three IARU regions, and has been the source of several international initiatives. IARU Region 1 lobbying efforts led to the creation of the 30 meter, 17 meter, and 12 meter amateur radio bands, improving the standardization of reciprocal licensing, promoting Amateur Radio Direction Finding and initiating youth related activities, known as "the Youngsters On the Air project" (YOTA).
President: Sylvain Azarian, F4GKR
Vice-President: Hani Raad, OD5TE
Secretary: Mats Espling, SM6EAN
Treasurer: Andreas Thiemann, HB9JOE
IARU Region 2 includes the member societies representing amateur radio operators in the Americas. The organization of IARU Region 2 was founded in 1964 when representatives from 15 national radio societies attended the First Panamerican Radio Amateur Congress in Mexico City, Mexico. Antonio Pita, XE1CCP was the region's first elected president.
President: Ramón Santoyo, XE1KK
Vice-President: José Arturo Molina, YS1MS
Secretary: George Gorsline, VE3YV
Treasurer: John Bellows, K0QB
IARU Region 3 includes the member societies representing amateur radio operators in Australia, most of Asia, and the Pacific Islands. Although most of their membership is located in other IARU regions, the American Radio Relay League and the Radio Society of Great Britain are full member societies of IARU Region 3. The ARRL represents amateur radio operators in American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Marianas, and other dependent territories in the Pacific Ocean. The RSGB represents amateur radio operators in the British Indian Ocean Territory. IARU Region 3 has a special emphasis on promoting the harmonization of license qualifications in an effort to promote easier reciprocal operations by amateur radio operators in the region.
President: Wisnu Widjaja, YB0AZ
Secretary: Shizuo Endo, JE1MUI