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'Abortion boat' gets licence
01/07/2002 21:18 - (SA)
The Hague - The Dutch government announced on Monday it had granted a licence to pro-choice campaigners on a so-called abortion boat to dispense the abortion pill in international waters to women who live in countries that forbid the procedure.
Outgoing Health Minister Els Borst told Dutch radio that she would allow the Women on Waves foundation to hand out the drug Mifepriston on its boat Aurora.
"I think it is terrible that women and girls across the world fall victim to bungling abortionists," Borst said.
If a boat is in international waters and is flying the Dutch flag, Dutch law - which allows abortion - normally applies. However, surgical abortions are not allowed on Aurora because the authorities would have no way of inspecting the procedure, the minister said.
The boat attracted controversy in June last year when it sailed to Ireland, where abortion is illegal except under exceptional circumstances, offering terminations at sea.
In the end, no abortions were carried out as the group did not have a licence from the Dutch authorities.
The foundation said that it would sail again soon to fulfil its mission of lowering the number of women worldwide who die from illegal abortions, now estimated to be 100 000 each year. - Sapa-AFP
- SAPA
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