The International Planned Parenthood Federation/Western Hemisphere Region (IPPF/WHR) was founded in 1954 with the goal of improving the health of women throughout the Americas. IPPF/WHR seeks to address the range of sexual and reproductive health issues that affect the integral health of women, men and adolescents. IPPF/WHR's work is grounded in the belief that access to quality, sexual and reproductive health information and services is a basic human right.

By making these services available, IPPF/WHR helps to empower individuals to make decisions about their fertility and thus contributes to improving health and well being, national development and environmental quality.

IPPF/WHR works primarily through a network of 46 member associations in North America, Latin America and the Caribbean that provide over 18.5 million services each year at more than 10,000 service delivery points. Each member is a private autonomous organization, established to supply family planning and other related health services according to local needs, customs and laws.

IPPF/WHR provides technical assistance and financial support to these and other reproductive health organizations, helps facilitate information sharing among its members, and advocates for sexual and reproductive rights on a regional and international level.

IPPF/WHR is one of six regions that comprise the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), which is based in London. IPPF/WHR is the only region of the IPPF that is a separately incorporated entity. It is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit, tax-exempt organization, incorporated in New York State. The Planned Parenthood Federation of America is a separately incorporated affiliate of IPPF/WHR.

http://www.ippfwhr.org