About FIGO

 

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

FIGO has grown from an organisation representing the forty-two national societies which attended the founding meeting on the 26th of July, 1954, in Geneva into a worldwide organisation representing obstetricians and gynecologists in over one hundred 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 113 member societies.

 

FIGO is incorporated under the Swiss Civil Code and established at 42 rue du 31 Decembre, Geneva, Switzerland.

 

A UK Registered charity – International Federation of Gynecology & Obstetrics (Registered Charity No 1113263; Company No 5498067) – registered in England and Wales has also now been established as well as a trading company (FIGO Trading Limited – Company No 5895905 – also registered in England and Wales) which is a wholly owned subsidiary of the UK Registered Charity. The Registered Office of both the 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 FIGO 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 of FIGO meets 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.

 

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 gynecology such as oncology, STDs/AIDS, perinatal health, education, safe motherhood, medical terminology, women physicians in the specialty, social activities on women's health, new technology, the pathology of the breast and ethics.