1 S20 - Familiy Planning The past, present and future of Family Planning in Portugal Paula Cristina Almeida Remoaldo Universidade do Minho, Instituto de Ciências Sociais, Secção de Geografia Campus de Azurém, 4810 Guimarães, Portugal Telephone: 351-253510125; 351253510128 Telefax: 351-253510129 E-mail: p.remoaldo@eng.uminho.pt Context The concept of Family Planning, created in the thirties to replace the designation "birth control", has been suffering some changes in the last decades. For some time this concept was wrongly considered as a synonym of contraception, but Family Planning must be considered as a philosophy of life that is related to a rational and healthy way of spacing births, and also includes infertility and sexuality. As discussed in the International Conference of Population and Development (Cairo, 1994), Family Planning is nowadays a concept that is more related with reproductive health and considered as an important component of delivering reproductive health services. 1. Some juridical aspects concerning Family Planning in Portugal The year 1976 was fundamental for the introduction of Family Planning in Portugal as a law was published establishing Family Planning consultations in health centres integrated in the maternal-infant health services. We can not forget the major work done by the Portuguese non-governmental organization "Association for the Planning of Family", established in 1967 and federated in the International Planned Parenthood Federation (I.P.P.F.), that has struggled against all political and religious adversities that existed in Portugal until 1974. After the April 1974 revolution, this Association has increased their strength, and is nowadays an important interlocutor in defining the national politics concerning Family Planning and other politics related with health and the welfare of the family. On the other hand, and as expected, it was a doctor that profited from the political scenery and from the fact of being a member of the government, which legislated Family Planning in Portugal. This well-known doctor, Dr. Albino Aroso, is recognised as the Father of Family Planning in Portugal, and he was the President of the Portuguese "Association for the Planning of Family" between 1970 and 1981. Still in 1976 it was established in the Portuguese Constitution that Family Planning is a right of all citizens. But the introduction of Family Planning consultations in health centres