24 May 1962: Foundation stone of the WHO Headquarters

On 24 May 1962, the foundation stone of the new Headquarters building of the World Health Organization (WHO) was laid on the site of  “En Choutagnes”, at Pregny, on the outskirts of Geneva.

Photographed on the building site, from left to right, Mr Joseph Handler, Director of Public Information of WHO, Dr Pierre Dorolle, Deputy Director-General of WHO, Dr Marcolino G. Candau, WHO Director-General, and Dr Rodolphe Coigney, WHO Protocole Officer.

Present at the ceremony were representatives of the Swiss Confederation, the City and Canton of Geneva, the delegations to the Fifteenth World Health Assembly (representing the 115 Member and Associate Member States of WHO), the United Nations, and of various international bodies with headquarters in Geneva.

The World Health Assembly is the decision-making body of WHO. It is attended by delegations from all WHO Member States and focuses on a specific health agenda prepared by the Executive Board. The main functions of the World Health Assembly are to determine the policies of the Organization, appoint the Director-General, supervise financial policies, and review and approve the proposed programme budget. The World Health Assembly is held annually in Geneva, Switzerland.