Women on Waves

Women on Waves
Abbreviation	WoW
Formation	1999
Type	Nonprofit organisation
Purpose	Bringing reproductive health services such as abortion and education to countries where these are restricted
Headquarters	Amsterdam, Netherlands
Region served	Countries with restricted reproductive health services
Founder	Rebecca Gomperts
Website	womenonwaves.org

Women on Waves (WoW) is a Dutch nongovernmental organization (NGO) created in 1999 by Dutch physician Rebecca Gomperts, in order to bring reproductive health services, particularly non-surgical abortion services and education, to women in countries with restrictive abortion laws.^[1] Other services offered by WoW include contraception, individual reproductive counseling, workshops, and education about unwanted pregnancy.^[2] Workshops are conducted for lawyers, doctors, artists, writers,^[1] public health care activists, as well as for women and men to learn about contraceptive practices and non-surgical, self-induced abortion using RU-486 (medication abortion).^[3]^[4] Services are provided on a commissioned ship that contains a specially constructed mobile clinic, the A-Portable. When WoW visits a country, women make appointments, and are taken on board the ship. The ship then sails out approximately 20 km (12 miles), to international waters, where Dutch laws are in effect on board ships registered in the Netherlands.^[1] Once in international waters, the ship's medical personnel provide a range of reproductive health services that includes medical abortion.^[5]

According to Gomperts, the first time the ship sailed out, it was a Dutch ship leaving Dutch waters. This meant they could take abortion pills with them to give out in international waters.^[6]

The A-Portable was designed by the Dutch studio Atelier van Lieshout and functions as both medical clinic and art installation.^[1]

Women on Waves volunteers and personnel have been targeted by governmental authorities, religious organizations, and local groups who are opposed to abortion and/or contraception.^[1] The NGO is credited for reviving debates about abortion in the countries where Women on Waves visits.^[1]

Today, access to abortion is a major focus of certain Dutch organizations and government initiatives.^[7] In the Netherlands, abortion is legal up to the 24th week of pregnancy and covered by the Exceptional Medical Expenses Act or health insurers.^[8]

Women on waves represents part of the global move for reproductive rights. The ship has been used to test and challenge the limited reproductive rights in countries like Ireland and attempt to create more access to abortion^[9]

more than 9 out of 10 abortions worldwide occur in developing nations like the ones Gomperts and Women on Waves visit. Unsafe abortions in regions where it is outlawed or restricted are a leading cause of maternal death.

^[10] Gomperts has faced considerable opposition to Women on Waves. The 2014 documentary Vessel shows anti-abortion protesters in Poland calling her a Nazi in a chant, and in Spain trying to tow the Women on Waves vessel back out to sea.[1]

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Lambert-Beatty, Carrie (2008). "Twelve miles: Boundaries of the new art/activism". Signs: Journal of Women in Culture and Society. 34 (1): 309–327. doi:10.1086/588446. ISSN 0097-9740.
^ Best, Alyssa (September 2005). "Abortion Rights along the Irish-English Border and the Liminality of Women's Experiences". Dialectical Anthropology. 29 (3–4): 423–437. doi:10.1007/s10624-005-3863-x. ISSN 0304-4092. S2CID 145318165.
^ Whitten, Diana. 2014. Vessel. Documentary film. Published by Sovereignty Productions.
^ "Floating clinic spreads word on abortion pill | The Star". thestar.com. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
^ "Campaigns and Information". Women on Waves. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
^ Urbina, Ian (17 October 2022). "From the Sea, Freedom | The Outlaw Ocean Podcast". The Outlaw Ocean Project. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
^ Zaken, Ministerie van Buitenlandse. "Dutch Development results Sexual and reproductive health and rights including HIV / AIDS (SRHR)". www.dutchdevelopmentresults.nl. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
^ Ministerie (1 July 2014). "Topics - Abortion - Government.nl". www.government.nl. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
^ Gomperts, Rebecca (January 2002). "Women on Waves: Where Next for the Abortion Boat?". Reproductive Health Matters. 10 (19): 180–183. doi:10.1016/S0968-8080(02)00004-6. ISSN 0968-8080.
^ https://www.womenonwaves.org/en/page/650/who-are-we

[:1-1] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Lambert-Beatty, Carrie (2008). "Twelve miles: Boundaries of the new art/activism". Signs: Journal of Women in Culture and Society. 34 (1): 309–327. doi:10.1086/588446. ISSN 0097-9740.

[:0-2] Best, Alyssa (September 2005). "Abortion Rights along the Irish-English Border and the Liminality of Women's Experiences". Dialectical Anthropology. 29 (3–4): 423–437. doi:10.1007/s10624-005-3863-x. ISSN 0304-4092. S2CID 145318165.

[:2-3] Whitten, Diana. 2014. Vessel. Documentary film. Published by Sovereignty Productions.

[4] "Floating clinic spreads word on abortion pill | The Star". thestar.com. Retrieved 8 June 2018.

[5] "Campaigns and Information". Women on Waves. Retrieved 17 October 2016.

[6] Urbina, Ian (17 October 2022). "From the Sea, Freedom | The Outlaw Ocean Podcast". The Outlaw Ocean Project. Retrieved 24 November 2023.

[7] Zaken, Ministerie van Buitenlandse. "Dutch Development results Sexual and reproductive health and rights including HIV / AIDS (SRHR)". www.dutchdevelopmentresults.nl. Retrieved 28 November 2023.

[8] Ministerie (1 July 2014). "Topics - Abortion - Government.nl". www.government.nl. Retrieved 28 November 2023.

[:13-9] Gomperts, Rebecca (January 2002). "Women on Waves: Where Next for the Abortion Boat?". Reproductive Health Matters. 10 (19): 180–183. doi:10.1016/S0968-8080(02)00004-6. ISSN 0968-8080.

[10] ttps://www.womenonwaves.org/en/page/650/who-are-we

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