Changes to lay membership criteria for board of directors

The World Federation of Hemophilia (WFH) is making changes to the eligibility requirements of lay membership on the board of directors. These changes are being made to keep the process current and attuned to the evolving nature of the global bleeding disorders community.

As of May 2018, lay membership was opened to people who may not have hemophilia themselves, but who are married, in civil union, or the de facto spouse of a person with hemophilia. The change to the WFH By-laws is as follows:

Lay membership may be granted:

1. to a person with hemophilia or other inherited bleeding disorders
2. to a parent of such person
3. to a married, civil union, or de facto spouse of such person. De facto spouses are persons who have lived in a conjugal union relationship for at least three years or for one year if a child was born or adopted by such persons.