International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) recently released its annual performance report for 2008-2009. Despite an economic downturn and a slight decrease in annual income, the abortion industry giant boasts of increased activity across all of its lines of work, including condom distribution, advocacy and abortion services.

IPPF’s overall income for 2008 was US$119.7 million, down from over $120 million the previous year. While IPPF’s total financial intake dipped, its abortion business boomed. The organization provided almost 428,000 “abortion services” to young people alone, with a staggering 1,134,549 total number of such services – almost double the number from 2007 – across the globe.

Despite an increase in abortion services, IPPF remains unsatisfied with the figure, arguing that “in comparison to other types of services provided by IPPF Member Associations, these figures remain low and indicate that much needs to be done in terms of future investment in this area if IPPF is to meet its objectives of providing women with the choice and right to safe abortion when faced with an unwanted pregnancy.”

In the report, IPPF boasts of promoting its abortion agenda among its member associations in traditionally pro-life countries. IPPF highlights its work in pro-life Ireland, which maintains strict limits on abortion access despite pressure from its EU partners and abortion advocacy groups such as IPPF. IPPF boasts that through its member associations, it has been on the ground helping to provide support for rallies and debates to challenge Ireland’s pro-life laws since “public debate is often dominated by religion.”

IPPF also boasts of its successes in Spain, where abortion only had been permitted in cases of rape, fetal impairment or for the health of the mother. The IPPF report credits its Spanish Member Association for successfully campaigning in 2008 for an amendment to the abortion law to remove restrictions and legalize first trimester abortions on demand.

The report laments the “dramatic decrease in funding for family planning” from international donors and claims that the drop “represents a decline in donor interest rather than a decline in need.”

IPPF intends to focus its future work on securing sustainable funding for its activities by capitalizing on statements made by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on family planning funding, and on the Obama administration’s repeal of the Mexico City policy so that funding to “international sexual and reproductive health organizations” will be restored.

IPPF views these developments as part of a “growing international interest” which “needs to be seized upon in order to drive forward the agenda for universal access to reproductive health.” IPPF will be focusing on using the “emerging momentum around maternal health to secure new support and financing” to fund abortion growth.

Beyond its traditional emphasis on abortion, contraception, family planning and advocacy, Executive Director Gill Greer indicates IPPF will expand into new areas such as “population dynamics” and “climate change” to garner increased funding.