Rutgers WPF was established after a merger between World Population Foundation (WPF) and the Rutgers Nisso Groep, the Dutch Expert Centre on Sexuality. Rutgers WPF has a rich history that goes back to 1881 in the Netherlands.
New Malthusion Union
In 1881 the New Malthusian Union (Nieuwe Malthusiaanse Bond in Dutch) was established in the Netherlands to promote birth control. This Union wanted free distribution of contraceptives to the working classes to promote reduction of large families and poverty.
Johannes Rutgers
The Secretary of the New Malthusian Union was Johannes Rutgers (1850–1924). Rutgers was a family doctor who used to offer birth-control counselling in the Dutch city of Rotterdam as early as 1892. Together with Aletta Jacobs, the first female physician in the Netherlands, Johannes Rutgers was a pioneer in the field of sexuality and contraceptives.
Johannes Rutgers Lecture
In honour of Dr. Rutgers, Rutgers WPF has started an annual oration titled the Johannes Rutgers Lecture. The first Johannes Rutgers Lecture took place on 12 September 2011, on World Sexual Health Day. The aim of this annual event is to pass on current knowledge relating to sexual and reproductive health and rights.
More information
- Read more about the history of Rutgers Nisso Groep
- Read more about the history of World Population Foundation (WPF)
