International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics

The International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics – “FIGO” – is the only worldwide organisation that groups obstetricians and gynaecologists. The mission of FIGO is to promote the well-being of women and to raise the standard of practice in obstetrics and gynecology.   

The full Mission Statement may be found by clicking here.

FIGO has grown from an organisation representing the forty-two national societies which attended the founding meeting on the 26th July 1954 in Geneva, Switzerland into a worldwide organisation representing obstetricians and gynaecologists in 124 territories.  FIGO is a benevolent, non-profit organisation funded through subscriptions received from member societies, grants and the proceeds of its triennial World Congress. FIGO is composed of 124 member societies.  

The original Swiss Federation – whose registered address is rue du 31 Decembre, Geneva, Switzerland – was incorporated under the Swiss Civil Code in 1954. A UK Registered Charity – International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (Registered Charity No 1113263; Company No 5498067) – registered in England and Wales was established in June 2005 and became fully operational on 1st January 2008. It is a company limited by guarantee and governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association.  

FIGO Trading Limited (Company No 5895905), also registered in England and Wales, is a wholly owned commercial trading subsidiary of the UK Registered Charity. The Registered Office of both the UK Registered Charity and FIGO Trading Limited is FIGO House, Suite 3 – Waterloo Court, 10 Theed Street, London SE1 8ST, United kingdom. 

The FIGO Charitable Foundation is a US 501(c)(3) corporation incorporated in the State of Illinois, USA on 28th November 2001 as a Not for Profit Corporation. (EIN No 98-0362884). The Registered Office of the FIGO Charitable Foundation is 222 North LaSalle Street, Suite 2600, Chicago, Illinois 60601, USA. 

Governance

The governance of The International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics is set out in its Constitution and Bye-Laws, a copy of which may be found by clicking here. 

The Executive Board, composed of 6 officers and representatives of 24 member societies, determines policy and is responsible for administration. Face-to-face meetings are infrequent, and much of the business is transacted by correspondence, facsimile and e-mail. The Executive Board meets once a year and the Officers at least twice yearly.  

The General Assembly takes place every three years at the time of the triennial World Congress and is composed of delegates from each member association. It hears reports, approves the accounts and elects the officers and new members of the Executive Board for the ensuing three-year term. The most recent General Assembly took place in Cape Town, South Africa, in October 2009. The next will take place in Rome, Italy, in 2012. All registered participants in the Congress are welcome to attend the sessions of the General Assembly. 

A Chief Executive manages the day to day operations of the Charity. 

Activities  

Since its founding in 1954, every three years FIGO has organised a World Congress of Gynecology and Obstetrics. Its other activities include:

• the organisation and administration of safe motherhood projects around the world, designed to reduce maternal mortality in developing countries
• the awarding of modest grants to societies involved in the organisation of national workshops on maternal mortality and on safe motherhood
• the organisation of international workshops and the De Watteville Lecture, in collaboration with IFFS (given in memory of Professor Hubert de Watteville, one of the founding fathers of FIGO)
• the awarding of fellowships
• The production of the World Report on Women’s Health, published every three years to coincide with the World Congress. This special supplement to the International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics represents a comprehensive overview of women’s health issues, both medical and social, such as the environment, violence against women, infertility and the effects of aging.

Through the work of dedicated Committees, FIGO's work embraces many aspects of obstetrics and gynaecology such as oncology, fistula, education, safe motherhood, , social aspects of women's health, and ethics.