International Planned Parenthood Federation

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The International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) was established in the early 1950s. A non-governmental organization with broads aims of promoting sexual and reproductive health, advocating the right of individuals to make their own choices in family planning. IPPF has 152 national member family planning associations (FPAs) working in 172 countries. In 2011 those facilities delivered over 89 million sexual and reproductive health services. [1]

IPPF has been fully involved in the five-year review process of the Progamme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD). As in Cairo, more than 40 representatives of Family Planning Associations have been active participants on their goverment delegations in New York, as they were also at The Hague International Forum.[2]

History

Sanger.jpg

IPPF was formerly named International Committee on the Planned Parenthood(ICPP).It was a provisional organization formed after the 1948 International Congress of Population and World Resources held in Cheltenham, England. The main objective was to collect and disseminate information on human fertility, birth control, sex education, and population problems, along with organizing programs, conferences, and other activities related to birth control education. Initial funding for the ICPP came from a grant from the Brush Foundation of Cleveland.

The Committee's headquarters were setup in London and maintained by the five(5) member organizations: the Family Planning Association of England, the Planned Parenthood Federation of America,the Margaret Sanger Research Bureau, the Nedelandse Vereniging Voor Sexuale Hevorming,(the Netherlands) and the Riksfurbundet for Sexuell Upplysning (Sweden). It consisted of two representatives from each of the European members and three representatives from the two American members and met annually in London from 1949 to 1951.[3]

Mission and Vision

IPPF strives for a world in which all women, men and young people have access to the sexual and reproductive health information and services they need; a world in which sexuality is recognized both as a natural and precious aspect of life and as a fundamental right; a world in which choices are fully respected and where stigma and discrimination have no place.

IPPF aims to improve the quality of life of individuals by providing and campaigning for sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) through advocacy and services, especially for poor and vulnerable people. The Federation defends the right of all people to enjoy sexual lives free from ill health, unwanted pregnancy, violence and discrimination. IPPF works to ensure that women are not put at unnecessary risk of injury, illness and death as a result of pregnancy and childbirth, and it supports a woman’s right to choose to 'terminate her pregnancy legally and safely'. IPPF strives to eliminate sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and to reduce the spread and impact of HIV and AIDS.[1]

Personnel

2000

As at Dec. 1998, the following served as Officers of the Federation:[4]

Funding

The IPPF is financially supported by governments, trusts, and foundations including the European Commission and the United Nations Population Fund for special projects. Half of the balance of their funding comes from government official development assistance programmes. To achieve their goals as an organization, the IPPF often collaborates with the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations Population Fund (UNPF), and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)

The IPPF is a prominent lobbyist in the European Union: specifically, for the European Council and the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). It is the only non-governmental organization (NGO) that focuses on sexual health and reproductive rights to qualify for Consultative Status with the Council of Europe. This allows the IPPF to sit in on the Parliamentary Assembly. [5]

April 2011

It was revealed that IPPF, which had applied for an $18 million grant more than a year previously, had been denied funding by the Conservative government due to lobbying efforts by pro-life groups.[5]

September 2011

The Canadian International Development Agency granted IPPF $6 million over three years. The money is for services yet to be rendered in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Mali, Sudan, and Tanzania. Many anti-abortion activists have been critical of the spending including conservative MP Brad Trost who criticized his own party for supporting the pro-choice group.[6]

United States funding

IPPF is a pro-choice organization that advocates for access to contraception and safe abortion services. This has led IPPF into conflict with conservative social forces, including the Roman Catholic Church and the administration of U.S. President George W. Bush, who reinstated the Mexico City Policy in 2001. This policy required non-governmental organizations in receipt of U.S. funds to refrain from providing birth control and/or abortion-related services, and was first instituted by President Ronald Reagan in 1984 after lobbying from the Vatican following's Reagan's establishment of official diplomatic relations with the Holy See. IPPF opted not to alter its method of operation, and, as a result, lost 20% of its funding during the time the Mexico City Policy was in effect. The policy was rescinded by President Barack Obama in January 2009. [5]

In 2009, IPPF, took in more money than ever. Income from all sources was $140 million—a staggering 75 percent increase from 2001. After giving out $81 million to its members and spending a lot on programs and fundraising, International Planned Parenthood ended 2009 with $114 million on hand. Not bad for a not-for-profit organization.[7]

IPPF works through local member associations:

In 2009, there were 152 member associations (MA's) active in 174 countries.

  • 66.2% of MA's advocate for reduced restrictions and/or increased access to legal abortion
  • 86.5% of MA's provide abortion-related services
  • 1,134,549 abortion-related services were provided in 2009 through MA's

IPPF's main source of funding is government grants, which account for just under 70% of total income. Unrestricted government grants increased by $2 million (2.5%) with Australia, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, Finland and Norway all increasing funding." Why does International Planned Parenthood's radical abortion agenda continue to garner support of governments around the world? [7]

Largest government contributors:

  • The Netherlands $15,346,000
  • Sweden $14,606,000
  • Japan $12,508,000

The U.S. government did not contribute in 2009. However, IPPF joined other abortion advocacy groups in calling upon the Obama administration to increase funding for international organizations that promote and provide "reproductive health care," a euphemism understood to include abortion on demand.[7]

Grants from multilaterals and other income sources (26% ):

  • Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation $7,083,000
  • David and Lucile Packard Foundation $2,250,000
  • United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA) $1,359,000
  • Population Action International (PAI) $1,332,000
  • United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) $1,675,000

Pres. Barack Obama overturned the pro-life Mexico City Policy on Jan. 23, 2009. The policy first instituted by pro-life Pres. Ronald Reagan made organizations that promote abortion overseas ineligible for U.S. taxpayer funds. Obama’s reversal means that International Planned Parenthood can, and likely will, receive tens of millions of U.S. taxpayer dollars for its abortion advocacy work. That work includes pressuring foreign governments to legalize abortion on demand. With $114 million of cash on hand and more on the way, International Planned Parenthood has vast resources to accomplish its deadly agenda — even if it claims it needs more money.[7]

IPPF's 5 'priority focus areas' — here's how they spent their money: Note Planned Parenthood references to "reproductive health" include abortions and abortion-related services.[7]

  • 45% Access (ensuring access to info and services to improve sexual and reproductive health w/particular focus on marginalized communities)
  • 20% Abortion (to advocate for the right to safe abortion services and provide them to the fullest extent permitted by law)
  • 15% Adolescents (providing youth friendly services to meet the needs and rights of young people)
  • 11% Advocacy (to strengthen recognition of the importance of sexual and reproductive health within the context of int'l development and to increase resources in support of sexual and reproductive health services)
  • 9% AIDS (increasing access to prevention, care, support and treatment globally, and to reduce barriers that make people vulnerable to infection)

Grants went to 145 countries; of the $73,368,132 in total grants:

  • Consortium of 12 Caribbean countries
  • List of countries funded by IPPF [8]

International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) is increasing its focus on Africa. They use the threat of losing funding from the U.S. State Department, the United Nations and other partners to coerce African leaders into instituting abortion as a means of population control. Most African countries have laws heavily restricting abortion, but they rely significantly on international funding to survive.[7]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 IPPF
  2. IPPF -21st Special Session of the UN (accessed on Septermber 20, 2012)
  3. The Margaret Sanger Papers Microfilm Edition: Collected Documents Series (accessed September 21,2012)
  4. IPPF: Officers of the Federation (accessed on June 11, 2000 via the Wayback Machine)
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 Wikipedia
  6. Montreal Gazette: Anti-abortion supporters angered over CIDA funding for abortion-offering group, September 28, 2011 by Lee Berthiaume (accessed on Sep. 10, 2012)
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life: Planned Parenthood's funding is outrageous! (accessed on Sep. 10, 2012)
  8. IPPF Financial Statements 2009 - 2011 (accessed December 19, 2012)