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Founded in 1916 by Mary Dennett, Planned Parenthood began as the (American) National Birth Control League and was later
renamed the American Birth Control League under Margaret Sanger. The League was influential in liberalizing laws against
birth control throughout the 1920s and 1930s before changing its name to Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc. in
1942. The organization grew rapidly over the next few decades, including by extended its services beyond the U.S. and
becoming publicly visible in working for women's reproductive rights.
In 1952, the International Planned Parenthood Federation was founded in Mumbai, India with the broad aims of promoting sexual and reproductive health and advocating the right of individuals to make their own choices in family planning. Today, the IPPF is provides a variety of reproductive health and maternal and child health services in almost 200 nations through more than 150 member associations, including Planned Parenthood of the U.S. Member associations provide non-profit family planning services, sexual health services, and abuse prevention training and education. Their goals include giving clients the information necessary to make informed sexual health decisions, promoting continuing sexual health, making available high quality sexual health services, improving the overall health of low income individuals, and using democratic organization and the leadership of volunteers to promote these goals. 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 programs. 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). In addition, Planned Parenthood is a highly active lobbying organization, especially in the United States and Europe, where IPPF member associations regularly work in favor of legislation that supports women's health, reproductive rights, economic justice for women and children, and other related causes. All information adapted from Wikipedia. |