Abortion Ship To Sail Again

Dutch vessel offers offshore procedures in countries where abortion is illegal
By J. Kelman,  Newser User
Posted Apr 25, 2007 3:52 PM CDT
Abortion Ship To Sail Again
A Polish woman holds a banner   (Getty Images)

The "abortion ship" is returning to international waters after a three-year hiatus, offering early-term procedures to women whose countries ban them. The Dutch nonprofit Women on Waves will distribute abortion pills to women up to seven weeks pregnant on the ship, which was prevented from docking in Lisbon in 2004 by a Portuguese navy blockade.

Portugal now allows abortion; Ireland, Poland and Malta do not. A change in Dutch  leadership had the ship confined to Dutch waters for the last three years; a new coalition has allowed it to sail internationally again, but required a partner hospital in each host country. (More abortion ship stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X