The Comité d'Organisation du Congrés International d'Orthodontie (COCIO) convened November 11-13 in Paris, France, to continue the planning process for the 6th International Orthodontic Congress (IOC) that will be held there September 11-15, 2005. Dr. Lee Graber, WFO president, and Dr. William DeKock, WFO secretary-general, represented the WFO at the sessions. Three other WFO Executive Committee members also attended. Dr. Francesca Miotti (Italy) assisted with scientific program planning while Dr. Julia Harfin (Argentina) helped to develop participation by WFO members from Central and South America. The general coordinator for the 2005 IOC is WFO Executive Committee member Dr. Olivier Mauchamp (France).

Every five years, the International Orthodontic Congress (IOC) is held under the joint sponsorship of the WFO and a WFO affiliated organization(s) in the host country. Both the Société Française d'Orthopédie Dento-Faciale (SFODF) and the Syndicat des Spécialistes Français en Orthopédie Dento-Faciale (SSFODF) will organize the 6th IOC.

The 6th IOC will stress the one world of orthodontics by featuring lecturers from the six regions of the world. On the last day of the conference, orthodontists may attend a European Village event where various national organizations will host different meetings, allowing attendees to learn more about orthodontics in the different areas of the world. To date, the following organizations have indicated their interest in participating in the European Village: the Société Belge d'Orthodontie (Belgium), the Bulgarian Orthodontic Society (Bulgaria), the British Orthodontic Society (Great Britain), the European Orthodontic Society (Europe), the SFODF and the SSFODF (France), the German Orthodontic Society (Germany), the Greek Orthodontic Society (Greece), the Societa Italiana Di Ortodonzia and the Associazione Specialisti Italiana Ortodonzia (Italy), and the Sociedade Portuguesa de Ortopedia Dento Facial (Portugal). In addition, the SFODF and SSFODF are also working on plans for a gala evening event and an International Reception.

The 3rd Meeting of the WFO will be held in conjunction with the 6th IOC. During this meeting, the WFO Council will convene to help the WFO identify opportunities that will favorably impact orthodontic treatment standards in every corner of the world.

Look to the Spring 2001 issue of the WFO Gazette for more details on the 6th IOC.