The World Family Organization (WFO) is a

non-governmental organization A non-governmental organization (NGO) or non-governmental organisation (see spelling differences) is an organization that generally is formed independent from government. They are typically nonprofit entities, and many of them are active in h ...

that works to "represent families of the world at all levels, to defend their interests and to act with them and for them through government and multilateral advocacy." Originally founded in 1946 in

Brussels Brussels (french: Bruxelles or ; nl, Brussel ), officially the Brussels-Capital Region (All text and all but one graphic show the English name as Brussels-Capital Region.) (french: link=no, Région de Bruxelles-Capitale; nl, link=no, Bruss ...

Belgium Belgium, ; french: Belgique ; german: Belgien officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. The country is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to th ...

as the "International Congress for Families and Population," the organization held the first World Family Congress in

Paris Paris () is the capital and most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), making it the 30th most densely populated city in the world in 2020. S ...

in 1947. The organization worked to reunify families in the aftermath of

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

and was formally named the "International Union of Family Organization" from 1947 to 1998. The organization obtained consultative status with the

United Nations Economic and Social Council The United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC; french: links=no, Conseil économique et social des Nations unies, ) is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations, responsible for coordinating the economic and social fields ...

in 1948. The organization was renamed as the "World Family Organization" in 1998 and currently has members from 180 countries. The mission of the WFO is "To promote means, opportunity, equal rights and chances for women and men to assume their role and functions within the Family and Society, in conditions of freedom, equity, security and human dignity, and promote policies and actions to bring about better life condition to all Families, respecting their diversity and cultures."

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* 1946 establishments in Belgium Non-governmental organizations Organizations based in Paris {{Nongov-org-stub