Madrid, Spain, Aug 19, 2004 / 22:00 pm
The organization “Women on Waves” will no longer be able to perform abortions in international waters aboard their abortion boats. A judge in Amsterdam has rejected the group’s request to continue bypassing the laws of countries where abortion is illegal by picking up women and taking them out to international waters to where they can receive abortions.
The judge rejected Women on the Waves’ request to perform abortions more than 20 miles away from the Dutch hospital which contracted the group, according to the Dutch news agency ANP.
The Secretary for Health in Holland, Clemence Ross, specified in a license granted two years ago that the organization was not authorized to carry out abortions more than 20 miles away from the Slootervaart Hospital.
The ruling means it will be impossible for the group to perform abortions on a boat in international waters, or outside the borders of Holland.