Discussions that began in Belgium last year, when pro-life doctors from around the world met, have resulted in the formation of the International Right to Life Federation.  Dr. John C. Willke, president of the U.S. National Right to Life Committee, is the group’s first president.

Dr. Willke said that the organization is “long overdue.  For years the pro-abortion people have been organized internationally.”  Today, Dr. Willke pointed out, nations are interdependent.  “What happens in one country can have a dramatic influence elsewhere,” he said.  The Federation will focus on the issues of abortion, infanticide and euthanasia.  Executive Director, William Sherwin, will work from the headquarters I Lausanne, Switzerland to keep the various national groups informed on current issues internationally.

Another advantage of an International Federation representing pro-life is that it will eventually qualify as an official Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) at international governmental meetings.  The Federation will thus stand on equal footing with the International Planed Parenthood Federation at such meetings.

An interim steering committee of representatives from nine nations have been formed.  In addition to Dr. Willke as president, Mrs. Phyllis Bowman (president of the Society for the Protection of the Unborn Child in London) is vice-president.  Acting treasurer is Silvio Ghielmi from Italy and secretary is William Sherwin from Ireland.  Other countries represented on the committee are Yugoslavia, India, Kenya and Canada.  The Canadian representative is Mrs. Jacqueline Owen, past-president of Alliance for Life.

UN honours IPPF

The United Nations recently presented the International Planned Parenthood Federation with its 1985 Population Award, for its “outstanding contribution to the awareness of population issues and solutions.”

The award consists of a diploma, a gold medal and $25,000.  IPPF plans to use the money “to fund family planning projects in Africa.”

IPPF is the first organization to have won the award which is usually presented to individuals.  Previous winners include Indira Ghandi of India, Qian Xin Zhanz of China and Drs. J. Segal and J. Sheldon of the U.S.

The U.N. announcement also mentioned IPPF’s work in “population education” and its efforts to advance “population issues on the international scene” as reasons for its choice.