World Population Foundation
Encyclopedia
The World Population Foundation (WPF) was founded in 1987 in the Netherlands
by Diana and Roy W Brown
. Their purpose was to create an organisation to draw attention to the effects of high birth rate
s and rapid population growth
on maternal and infant mortality
, communities and the environment, and to raise funds for population projects and programmes, with the ultimate aim of reducing world poverty and improving the quality of life of the world’s poorest people.
From 1987 until 1994, WPF was a small organisation mainly supported by donations from the founders and by consultancy assignments. In 1994, the WPF played an important role in the Dutch delegation of the International Conference on Population and Development
in Cairo, Egypt. At this conference, the Cairo Programme of Action was adopted which still serves as a foundation for WPF’s work.
WPF works to reduce maternal and infant mortality, and improve sexual health and reproductive rights
. It acknowledges that attention for these themes and to the improvement of services will contribute to the struggle against poverty
worldwide. Therefore WPF advocates the implementation of these themes in the UN's Millennium Development Goals
.
2006-2009, the World Population Foundation's board members include Nafis Sadik
, former Executive Director of UNFPA. As of 1 January 2011, Rutgers Nisso Groep and World Population Foundation (WPF) have merged under the new name Rutgers WPF. Chair of Rutgers WPF is Bert Koenders, former minister for Development Cooperation of the Netherlands.
WPF works to strengthen the capacity of local organisations, assists in developing and implementing activities, and provides management training. WPF’s approach is based on Dutch policies on sexual and reproductive health, especially with regard to young people. As of 2006, WPF supported NGOs in nine countries.
Currently WPF maintains field offices in Pakistan
, Vietnam
and Indonesia
.
, Europe
, and, at the international level, with the United Nations
. Indirect advocacy includes public awareness creation through the Dutch media and with partner organizations in developing countries.
WPF is an active member of Share-Net and EuroNGOs. In 2004 WPF was granted 'Special Consultative Status' by the United Nations Economic and Social Council
.
WPF established a youth organization: CHOICE for youth and sexuality. CHOICE went on to initiate the Youth Coalition) and YouAct, a European youth networkon sexual and reproductive health and rights.
In the Netherlands WPF is campaigning under the MYBODY label, with the slogan My Life, My Choice, MYBODY.
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
by Diana and Roy W Brown
Roy W Brown
Roy W. Brown is a British-born engineer, humanist and human rights activist. He was president of the International Humanist and Ethical Union from 2003 to 2006 and is main representative of IHEU at the United Nations, Geneva.-Early years:...
. Their purpose was to create an organisation to draw attention to the effects of high birth rate
Birth rate
Crude birth rate is the nativity or childbirths per 1,000 people per year . Another word used interchangeably with "birth rate" is "natality". When the crude birth rate is subtracted from the crude death rate, it reveals the rate of natural increase...
s and rapid population growth
Population growth
Population growth is the change in a population over time, and can be quantified as the change in the number of individuals of any species in a population using "per unit time" for measurement....
on maternal and infant mortality
Infant mortality
Infant mortality is defined as the number of infant deaths per 1000 live births. Traditionally, the most common cause worldwide was dehydration from diarrhea. However, the spreading information about Oral Re-hydration Solution to mothers around the world has decreased the rate of children dying...
, communities and the environment, and to raise funds for population projects and programmes, with the ultimate aim of reducing world poverty and improving the quality of life of the world’s poorest people.
From 1987 until 1994, WPF was a small organisation mainly supported by donations from the founders and by consultancy assignments. In 1994, the WPF played an important role in the Dutch delegation of the International Conference on Population and Development
International Conference on Population and Development
The United Nations coordinated an International Conference on Population and Development in Cairo, Egypt from 5–13 September 1994. Its resulting Program of Action is the steering document for the United Nations Population Fund ....
in Cairo, Egypt. At this conference, the Cairo Programme of Action was adopted which still serves as a foundation for WPF’s work.
WPF works to reduce maternal and infant mortality, and improve sexual health and reproductive rights
Reproductive rights
Reproductive rights are legal rights and freedoms relating to reproduction and reproductive health. The World Health Organization defines reproductive rights as follows:...
. It acknowledges that attention for these themes and to the improvement of services will contribute to the struggle against poverty
Poverty
Poverty is the lack of a certain amount of material possessions or money. Absolute poverty or destitution is inability to afford basic human needs, which commonly includes clean and fresh water, nutrition, health care, education, clothing and shelter. About 1.7 billion people are estimated to live...
worldwide. Therefore WPF advocates the implementation of these themes in the UN's Millennium Development Goals
Millennium Development Goals
The Millennium Development Goals are eight international development goals that all 193 United Nations member states and at least 23 international organizations have agreed to achieve by the year 2015...
.
2006-2009, the World Population Foundation's board members include Nafis Sadik
Nafis Sadik
Dr. Nafis Sadik, currently Special Adviser to the UN Secretary General with additional responsibilities as Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Asia, and former head of the United Nations Population Fund .-Personal life:...
, former Executive Director of UNFPA. As of 1 January 2011, Rutgers Nisso Groep and World Population Foundation (WPF) have merged under the new name Rutgers WPF. Chair of Rutgers WPF is Bert Koenders, former minister for Development Cooperation of the Netherlands.
In Developing Countries
WPF mainly supports local organisations that provide young and underprivileged people with access to information and services concerning sexuality and reproduction.WPF works to strengthen the capacity of local organisations, assists in developing and implementing activities, and provides management training. WPF’s approach is based on Dutch policies on sexual and reproductive health, especially with regard to young people. As of 2006, WPF supported NGOs in nine countries.
Currently WPF maintains field offices in Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
, Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
and Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
.
Advocacy Activities
WPF engages in advocacy with policy makers in the NetherlandsNetherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, and, at the international level, with the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
. Indirect advocacy includes public awareness creation through the Dutch media and with partner organizations in developing countries.
WPF is an active member of Share-Net and EuroNGOs. In 2004 WPF was granted 'Special Consultative Status' by the United Nations Economic and Social Council
United Nations Economic and Social Council
The Economic and Social Council of the United Nations constitutes one of the six principal organs of the United Nations and it is responsible for the coordination of the economic, social and related work of 14 UN specialized agencies, its functional commissions and five regional commissions...
.
WPF established a youth organization: CHOICE for youth and sexuality. CHOICE went on to initiate the Youth Coalition) and YouAct, a European youth networkon sexual and reproductive health and rights.
In the Netherlands WPF is campaigning under the MYBODY label, with the slogan My Life, My Choice, MYBODY.