Dutch ‘Abortion Ship’ Barred from Morocco Port

The World

A yacht that had docked in the port of Smir, in northern Morocco, was escorted out of the harbor by authorities.

The yacht’s private owners had rented it out to a Dutch abortions rights organization called “Women on Waves.”

Abortion is illegal in Morocco.

So the group intended to use the yacht to run an abortion information campaign, raising a banner with a hotline number women could call.

It’s run similar “stealth” operations in European countries from Poland to Portugal.

A local women’s rights group had invited “Women on Waves” to do the same in Morocco.

Rebecca Gomperts, the director of “Women on Waves,” says 300,000 women seek an abortion in Morocco every year.

Invest in independent global news

The World is an independent newsroom. We’re not funded by billionaires; instead, we rely on readers and listeners like you. As a listener, you’re a crucial part of our team and our global community. Your support is vital to running our nonprofit newsroom, and we can’t do this work without you. Will you support The World with a gift today? Donations made between now and Dec. 31 will be matched 1:1. Thanks for investing in our work!