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Which Laws Are Different in International Waters?

Talk about making waves: Since 1999, a Dutch group has been offering women in various parts of the world access to abortion services and education that they can't get in their home countries.

The organization, Women on Waves, will commission a ship that picks up women from their homeland, then sails out to sea for about 12 miles (20 km), where Dutch law prevails, due to being in international waters. On board, the women are provided with the reproductive health services they need, including medical (non-surgical) abortions, in a specially designed mobile clinic.

Founded by Dutch physician Rebecca Gomperts, the group Women on Waves provides access to family planning information and medical abortions onboard specially-commissioned boats in international waters.
Founded by Dutch physician Rebecca Gomperts, the group Women on Waves provides access to family planning information and medical abortions onboard specially-commissioned boats in international waters.

Rebecca Gomperts, the physician who founded Women on Waves, said the world was in need of a way to address the health issues caused by illegal abortions. Women on Waves also offers an online consultation service through which women are able to receive reproductive information and, if they qualify, have abortion pills sent to them.

Abortion facts:

  • According to the Guttmacher Institute, the abortion rate in countries that allow it and those that ban it is almost identical.

  • The World Health Organization estimates that 25 million abortions are performed every year by untrained individuals, or using unsafe methods.

  • In the United States, approximately 67 percent of people support abortion rights; the figure climbs to 76 percent in the United Kingdom.

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    • Founded by Dutch physician Rebecca Gomperts, the group Women on Waves provides access to family planning information and medical abortions onboard specially-commissioned boats in international waters.
      Founded by Dutch physician Rebecca Gomperts, the group Women on Waves provides access to family planning information and medical abortions onboard specially-commissioned boats in international waters.