World Federation of Right to Die Societies

The following is an interim description which may change when detailed cataloguing takes place in future:

The World Federation of Right to Die Societies was founded at the third international meeting of right to die societies in Oxford in 1980. These meetings had been the idea of Dr Tenrei Ota of the Japan Euthanasia Society (now the Japan Society for Dying with Dignity), who recognised the importance of societies learning from each other and gaining an international perspective.

The aims of The World Federation of Right to Die Societies are to promote co-operation and liaison between right to die societies through the dissemination of information and educational material about voluntary euthanasia and associated issues, and through international conferences on death and dying. They also give assistance regarding the foundation of similar societies in countries that do not have them.

As of 2012, The World Federation of Right to Die Societies consists of 44 right to die organizations from 25 countries.

More information can be found on their website

At Wellcome Collection:

SA/VES, papers of the Voluntary Euthanasia Society