Menu

Organization

Organization

Founded in London in 1937 the International Cremation Federation (ICF) is an international non-profit organisation devoted to promoting the practice of cremation to the highest standard.

In 1996 the International Cremation Federation was granted Consultative Status (Roster) with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. The Federation has the ability to contribute to the international cremation movement and work of the United Nations at the highest level.

United Nations
The Federation has accredited representatives at the United Nations headquarters in New York and United Nations offices in both Vienna and Geneva for meetings of the Economic and Social Council. In addition it has appointed representatives to four regional economic commissions for Africa, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Asia and the Pacific.

Aims & Objectives
The aims of the ICF defined in its Statutes are:

  1. to provide information concerning cremation – the merits, viewed, inter alia, from a hygienic, ethical, economic and aesthetic standpoint;
  2. to simplify the process of cremation and to secure a general recognition of this rite;
  3. to free cremation from legal restrictions in countries where they still exist;
  4. to raise cremation to the same level as interment, including in ecclesiastical circles;
  5. to eliminate problems encountered in transporting the ashes of a deceased person from one country to another.

It works towards these objectives by:

  1. providing appropriate explanations to members and also by providing explanations to the public and all kinds of organisations concerning the technical procedures and practical experience relating to cremation;
  2. implementing agreements between organisations concerning the cremation of deceased members of organisations abroad;
  3. promoting cremation with the aid of all available means;
  4. holding international cremation congresses and publishing official reports of the transactions of these congresses;
  5. negotiating with ecclesiastical and government authorities with the aim of making cremation possible or simplifying it;
  6. co-operating with organisations closely associated with cremation.