Main Objectives

STATEMENT OF IDENTITY, MISSION AND OBJECTIVES OF THE FIAT-IFTA FEDERATION

A. Identity

The Federation was founded on the initiative of entrepreneurs in the Funeral Sector reunited in a meeting in Monaco, April nineteen hundred seventy (1970) and is established as a non-profit International Federation for the funeral profession. FIAT- IFTA is a non-profit Federation of national or international associations, companies and individuals representing funeral, thanatopraxy, crematory and/or cemetery services, funeral home businesses, funeral service companies, funeral directors and embalmers. FIAT- IFTA shall not be utilized as a labour organization. FIAT-IFTA operates according to the principles of international corporate governance. To guarantee the high professional standards sustained by FIAT-IFTA, national representation in the Federation shall be assigned to a funeral director’s association or a funeral home company in the absence of a national association.

B. Mission

FIAT- IFTA provides advocacy, education, information, products, programs and services to help Members to enhance the quality of service to bereaved families in all countries.

C. Objectives

1. To promote international understanding and goodwill among the world’s funeral service professionals to offer a platform for the exchange of professional views and information and to achieve recognised professional standards, rules, regulations and treaties for the cost efficient, safe and secure international repatriation of deceased individuals;

2. To research and jointly study legal, moral, social and scientific issues relating to funeral services and thanatopraxy activities, especially in relation to services rendered in the memorialization and disposition of deceased individuals;

3. To encourage and develop education in funeral service and embalming or thanatopraxy throughout the world and achieve uniform standards and regulations;

4. To improve the quality of the services rendered by funeral directors and thanatologists, ensuring respect, ethical standards and responsibility, committing to aid the grief process of survivors and protecting public health; 

5. To increase the level of the professional knowledge of funeral service practitioners by assembling and disseminating to those in the profession, publications, articles, and other works related to funeral services and thanatopraxy issues;

6. To safeguard the global funeral heritage in joint effort with other organizations and to create awareness by governments and international bodies;

7. To provide due respect and deference to the autonomy of national organizations and to avoid any interference in all matters pertaining to laws, regulations, customs and manners of individual nations and to promote and represent the funeral industry wherever asked or required.

NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY

The Federation is orientated on a non-discriminating, scientific and social basis and shall not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, colour, religion, age, sex, national origin or physi¬cal disability. All member organizations, associations, and/or businesses shall abide by this non-discrimination policy in the conduct of their membership affairs and business.