Rutgers Stichting

Rutgers Stichting is a Dutch non-profit organisation dedicated to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). It describes itself as the Netherlands centre of knowledge and expertise on sexual health, safety and wellbeing, and operates nationally, across Europe and internationally. Its work combines research, advocacy, alliance building, capacity strengthening, youth participation and a gender-transformative approach, with the aim of supporting young people to grow up healthy, safe and happy. The organisation traces its roots to the Rutgers Stichting founded in 1969 and named after the Dutch neo-Malthusian Jan Rutgers (1850–1924). In the 1970s it ran more than sixty consultation bureaus for contraception, known as Rutgershuizen, spread across the Netherlands, with its head office in The Hague. It provided sex education on contraception and sexual abuse. After several mergers it was absorbed into the knowledge centre Rutgers. Today Rutgers provides reliable information, resources and support so that young people can make informed decisions about their bodies, lives and futures. It works with parents, health workers, schools, community members and leaders, government representatives, the LGBTQI+ community and the women's rights movement, as well as with HIV/AIDS and reproductive health organisations. Rutgers is the Dutch member of the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), a global non-profit promoting sexual and reproductive health, while remaining an independent entity with its own board. Rutgers publishes research and white papers, runs programmes and campaigns, and maintains an active news and resources output. Its website highlights publications such as "The Maze Women Face: Stuck Between Rights and Reality", "Freedom to think. Freedom to thrive.", "Decoding technology-facilitated gender-based violence: a reality check from seven countries" and "The Hearth of the Matter: Embrace the reality of young people's sexual and reproductive health and rights today". It also reports on coalition efforts, such as eleven Dutch organisations joining forces to improve SRHR worldwide.

The Rutgers Stichting was the successor to the Nederlandse Stichting Consultatiebureaus voor Huwelijks- en Geslachtsleven (Dutch Foundation for Consultation Bureaus for Marriage and Sexual Life). It was founded in 1969 and named after the Dutch neo-Malthusian Jan Rutgers (1850–1924). In the 1970s the organisation was successful with its consultation bureaus for contraception, the Rutgershuizen. It consisted of more than sixty consultation bureaus spread throughout the Netherlands, with its head office in The Hague. The Rutgers Stichting provided sex education about contraception and sexual abuse. In the late 1960s demand to legalise abortion (abortus provocatus) grew strongly. In the Netherlands there were still no possibilities to perform the procedure: it was forbidden and punishable. Amsterdam took a leading position in the abortion question. The Dutch Association for Sexual Reform (NVSH) did not want to cooperate in performing abortions. Therefore virtually all doctors and staff left the Amsterdam branch of the NVSH. In 1970 the independent foundation MR70 was established for abortion provision. It had the spirit of the times on its side and received help from many sides. In the early period, MR70 staff regularly gave information about contraception at schools and training institutions. In 1999 the Rutgers Stichting and NISSO (Netherlands Institute for Social Sexological Research) merged into the Rutgers Nisso Groep. In 2002 the Dutch government subsidy was discontinued and the Rutgers Stichting was dissolved. The various components were placed with other organisations. Staff and tasks of the Rutgers Stichting located on the Overtoom went to MR70, known from February 2002 under the name Amsterdams Centrum voor Seksuele Gezondheid (Amsterdam Centre for Sexual Health), or MR70/Rutgershuis. On 1 January 2011 the Rutgers Nisso Groep merged with the Wereldbevolkingsstichting (World Population Foundation). The new name of the organisation is Rutgers. Today Rutgers presents itself as the Dutch centre of knowledge and expertise for sexual health, safety and wellbeing, providing reliable information, resources and support so young people can make informed decisions about their bodies, lives and futures. It works in the Netherlands, Europe and globally, and is the Dutch member of the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), a global non-profit organisation that promotes sexual and reproductive health and supports individuals' rights to make their own choices regarding family planning. Rutgers is an independent entity with its own board and operates autonomously.

• 2011

  Rutgers Nisso Groep merged with the Wereldbevolkingsstichting on 1 January; the new name is Rutgers.

• 2002

  Dutch government subsidy discontinued; Rutgers Stichting dissolved; staff and tasks moved to MR70, known from February 2002 as Amsterdams Centrum voor Seksuele Gezondheid (MR70/Rutgershuis).

• 1999

  Rutgers Stichting and NISSO merged into the Rutgers Nisso Groep.

• 1970

  Independent foundation MR70 established for abortion provision after NVSH Amsterdam staff left.

• 1969

  Rutgers Stichting founded, named after Jan Rutgers (1850–1924).

Netherlands centre of knowledge and expertise on sexual health, safety and wellbeing; independent Dutch member of IPPF.

• Rutgershuizen consultation bureaus

  More than sixty consultation bureaus for contraception spread across the Netherlands in the 1970s.

• Research and white papers

  Publications such as 'The Maze Women Face', 'Freedom to think. Freedom to thrive.', 'Decoding technology-facilitated gender-based violence' and 'The Hearth of the Matter'.

1. 1Rutgers international – Sexual & Reproductive Health and Rights for Allrutgers.international
2. 2About Rutgers - Rutgers Internationalrutgers.international
3. 3What we do to improve sexual health and rights - Rutgers Internationalrutgers.international
4. 4Get involved - Rutgers Internationalrutgers.international
5. 5Rutgers Stichting - Wikidatawikidata.org
6. 6Rutgers Stichting - Wikipedia (NL)nl.wikipedia.org